During 2025–26, the CMSA will host a seminar on Quantum Field Theory and Physical Mathematics, organized by Robert Moscrop, Ahsan Khan, Chuck Doran, and Keyou Zeng.
This seminar series, a successor to the Quantum Matter Seminar, focuses on all aspects of quantum field theory and its associated mathematics.
The seminar will take place on Mondays from 3:00–4:00 pm.
To receive seminar announcements, please subscribe to the mailing list.
The schedule will be updated as talks are confirmed.
Quantum Field Theory and Physical Mathematics Seminar Speaker: Max Meynig, University of Connecticut Title: Computing WKB periods Abstract: In one dimensional quantum mechanics, the all-orders WKB method leads to ‘quantum periods’ which are formal power series in \hbar whose coefficients are certain period integrals. These periods, which limelight in supersymmetric/string theories, have rich structure and can be […]
Quantum Field Theory and Physical Mathematics Seminar Speaker: Pierre Vanhove (Institute of Theoretical Physics - Saclay) Title: Reflexive Polytopes and the Convergence of Feynman Integrals Abstract: In the parametric representation, Feynman integrals can be viewed as Euler integrals defined by the Symanzik polynomials of a graph. The convergence properties of these integrals are intimately tied […]
Quantum Field Theory and Physical Mathematics Seminar Speaker: Shaoyun Bai (MIT) Title: On the p-curvature of quantum connections of CY threefolds Abstract: The small quantum connection of Calabi-Yau varieties has integral coefficients, thus admits reduction mod a prime number p. A fundamental invariant associated with flat connections over characteristic p is the p-curvature, which lies […]
Quantum Field Theory and Physical Mathematics Seminar Speaker: Davide Gaiotto (Perimeter Institute) Title: The categorical 't Hooft expansion Abstract: The 't Hooft expansion is the key structure underlying dualities between gauge theories of large matrices and string theories. I will review categorical aspects of the 't Hooft expansion, matching the formal deformation space of certain […]
Quantum Field Theory and Physical Mathematics Seminar Speaker: Kasia Budzik (Harvard University) Title: Finite N indices from branes and negative branes Abstract: Finite-N effects in large-N gauge theories, such as trace relations, are expected to be holographically dual to non-perturbative phenomena in string theory, such as Giant Graviton branes. A convenient setting to study these […]
Quantum Field Theory and Physical Mathematics Seminar Speaker: Tianqin Zhu, Columbia University Title: K-theoretic stable envelopes, quantum loop groups and wall-crossings Abstract: The stable envelope is an important tool in both geometric representation theory and the enumerative geometry. One of the most important application is that it generates the geometric quantum loop group via the FRT […]
Quantum Field Theory and Physical Mathematics Seminar Speaker: Seraphim Jarov, Perimeter Institute Title: Twistorial constructions of higher genus integrability Abstract: I will present a new method to engineer integrable models in 4d with higher genus spectral parameters. The method has a twistorial origin – by working on a branched covering of twistor space, I show […]
Quantum Field Theory and Physical Mathematics Seminar Speaker: Lorenzo Riva (Harvard CMSA) Title: Zigzags, adjoints, and bordisms Abstract: We will learn how to freely add adjoints to a category using a combinatorial procedure which involves drawing zigzags of squares. Peculiarly, we can use these to draw some bordisms. This is joint work with Martina Rovelli.
Quantum Field Theory and Physical Mathematics Seminar Speaker: Charles Young (University of Hertfordshire) Title: Higher current algebras and chiral algebras Abstract: Vertex algebras capture physicists' notion of OPEs in chiral CFTs, in complex dimension one. For various motivations, one would like to have analogs of vertex algebras in higher dimensions. Chiral algebras, in the sense of Beilinson-Drinfeld and Francis-Gaitsgory, provide a natural framework here, […]
Quantum Field Theory and Physical Mathematics Seminar Speaker: Surya Raghavendran, Yale University Title: Twisted D-branes and TQFTs valued in Calabi-Yau categories Abstract: Recently, Bozec–Calaque–Scherotzke have articulated a noncommutative version of the AKSZ construction, which associates to a smooth Calabi–Yau category a fully extended TQFT valued in a category of iterated Calabi–Yau cospans. In this talk, […]
Quantum Field Theory and Physical Mathematics Seminar Speaker: Matthew Yu (University of Oxford) Title: When do anomalous finite symmetries in (3+1)d enforce gaplessness? Abstract: I will explain a comprehensive framework for characterizing the infrared (IR) phases of a fermionic QFTs in (3+1)d, based on their quantum anomalies associated with a finite symmetry. We uncover a […]
Quantum Field Theory and Physical Mathematics Seminar Speaker: Owen Gwilliam, UMass Amherst Title: Abelian duality via derived geometry Abstract: We discuss how to synthesize differential cohomology and the BV formalism to describe generalized Maxwell theories (or abelian p-form gauge theories), and how this framework allows a succinct formulation of abelian duality. Given time, we will discuss how […]