Colloquium

Speaker: Hans Lindblad (Johns Hopkins University) Title:  Global Existence and Scattering for Einstein's equations and related equations satisfying the weak null condition Abstract: Einstein's equations in harmonic or wave coordinates are a system of nonlinear wave equations for a Lorentzian metric, that in addition satisfy the preserved wave coordinate condition. Christodoulou-Klainerman proved global existence for Einstein vacuum equations for […]

Speaker: Aram Harrow (MIT) Title: Monogamy of entanglement and convex geometry Abstract: The SoS (sum of squares) hierarchy is a flexible algorithm that can be used to optimize polynomials and to test whether a quantum state is entangled or separable.  (Remarkably, these two problems are nearly isomorphic.)  These questions lie at the boundary of P, NP and the unique games […]

Speaker: Nima Arkani-Hamed (IAS) Title: Spacetime, Quantum Mechanics and Positive Geometry at Infinity  

Speaker: Kevin Costello (Perimeter Institute) Title: A unified perspective on integrability Abstract: Two-dimensional integrable field theories, and the integrable PDEs which are their classical limits, play an important role in mathematics and physics.   I will describe a geometric construction of integrable field theories which yields (essentially) all known integrable theories as well as many new ones.  Billiard dynamical […]

Speaker: Heather Harrington (University of Oxford) Title: Algebra, Geometry and Topology of ERK Enzyme Kinetics Abstract: In this talk I will analyse ERK time course data by developing mathematical models of enzyme kinetics. I will present how we can use differential algebra and geometry for model identifiability and topological data analysis to study these the wild type dynamics of ERK […]

Speaker: Xi Yin (Harvard) Title: An Introduction to the Non-Perturbative Bootstrap Abstract: I will discuss non-perturbative definitions of quantum field theories, some properties of correlation functions of local operators, and give a brief overview of some results and open questions concerning the conformal bootstrap

Speaker: Madhu Sudan (Harvard) Title: Communication Complexity of Randomness Manipulation Abstract: The task of manipulating randomness has been a subject of intense investigation in the theory of computer science. The classical definition of this task consider a single processor massaging random samples from an unknown source and trying to convert it into a sequence of uniform independent bits.  In […]

Speaker: Xiao-Gang Wen (MIT) Title: Emergence of graviton-like excitations from a lattice model Abstract: I will review some construction of lattice rotor model which give rise to emergent photons and graviton-like excitations. The appearance of vector-like charge and symmetric tensor field may be related to gapless fracton phases.

Speaker: David Yang (Harvard) Title: Data-intensive Innovation and the State: Evidence from AI Firms in China Abstract: Data-intensive technologies such as AI may reshape the modern world. We propose that two features of data interact to shape innovation in data-intensive economies: first, states are key collectors and repositories of data; second, data is a non-rival input in innovation. We document the importance of state-collected data for innovation using comprehensive data on Chinese facial recognition AI firms and government contracts. […]

Speaker: Scott Aaronson (University of Texas at Austin) Title: Gentle Measurement of Quantum States and Differential Privacy Abstract: I'll discuss a recent connection between two seemingly unrelated problems: how to measure a collection of quantum states without damaging them too much ("gentle measurement"), and how to provide statistical data without leaking too much about individuals ("differential privacy," an area of classical […]

Speaker: Scott Duke Kominers (Harvard) Title: A Compact, Logical Approach to Large-Market Analysis Abstract: In game theory, we often use infinite models to represent "limit" settings, such as markets with a large number of agents or games with a long time horizon. Yet many game-theoretic models incorporate finiteness assumptions that, while introduced for simplicity, play a real role in the analysis. Here, we show […]

Speaker: Daniel Wise (McGill University) Title: The Cubical Route to Understanding Groups Abstract: Cube complexes have come to play an increasingly central role within geometric group theory, as their connection to right-angled Artin groups provides a powerful combinatorial bridge between geometry and algebra. This talk will introduce nonpositively curved cube complexes, and then describe the developments that culminated in the resolution of the virtual […]