During the 2025–26 academic year, the CMSA will be hosting a seminar on Geometry and Quantum Theory, organized by Dan Freed and Vasily Krylov. The seminar will meet on Tuesdays from 4:15–6:30 pm (Eastern Time).
The seminar will take place in Science Center 507, 1 Oxford Street, Cambridge MA.
Geometry and Quantum Theory Seminar Speakers: Mayuko Yamashita, Kyoto University Title: Factorization algebras in TQFT Abstract: This is the first in the series of our working seminars on factorization algebras/homologies. This talk focuses on locally constant factorization algebras, which correspond to Topological QFTs. I first explain they are equivalent to algebras over E_n operads and […]
Geometry and Quantum Theory Seminar Speaker: Ahsan Khan Title: Perturbative Factorization Algebras Abstract: In physics the starting point in studying a QFT is to write down an appropriate action functional. My talk will aim to sketch how this connects with the framework of factorization algebras.
Geometry and Quantum Theory Seminar Speakers: Sunghyuk Park and Vasily Krylov, Harvard CMSA Title: Factorization Homology
Geometry and Quantum Theory Seminar Speaker: Keyou Zeng, Harvard CMSA Title: Review of the excision property in factorization homology
Geometry and Quantum Theory Seminar Speaker: Sunghyuk Park, Harvard CMSA Title: Blob homology
Geometry and Quantum Theory Seminar Speaker: Ben Gammage, Harvard University Title: Discussion of Integrating quantum groups over surfaces https://arxiv.org/abs/1501.04652
Geometry and Quantum Theory Seminar Speaker: Dan Freed, Harvard CMSA and Math Title: Algebras of "symmetries" in QFT and applications to solitons (1) https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.08883
Geometry and Quantum Theory Seminar Speaker: Dan Freed, Harvard CMSA and Math Title: Algebras of "symmetries" in QFT and applications to solitons (2) https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.08883
Geometry and Quantum Theory Seminar Speaker: Leon Liu, Harvard Title: Introduction to the probabilistic approach to Louville theory Abstract: I will give an introduction to the probabilistic approach to Louville theory, following Hairer's notes.
Geometry and Quantum Theory Seminar Speaker: Bowen Yang, CMSA Title: Introduction to the probabilistic approach to Louville theory III Abstract: I will continue with the construction of Liouville CFT from probabilistic methods, following a review by Guillarmou, Kupiainen, and Rhodes (arXiv:2403.12780). The talk will emphasize technical aspects of Gaussian free fields (GFF) and contrast them with Brownian […]
Geometry and Quantum Theory Seminar Speaker: Anadil Saeed Rao, Northeastern University Title: Instantons on Taub-NUT space and Bow Construction Abstract: In this talk I will discuss Yang-Mills Instantons in a very special geometric setting: the Taub-NUT space, which itself is a Gravitational Instanton. In the first part of the talk I will review the essentials of gravitational […]
Geometry and Quantum Theory Seminar Speakers: Bryan Wang Peng Jun (Harvard) and Bowen Yang (CMSA) Title: Classifying Space for Phases of Matrix Product States Abstract: In this talk we will introduce recent work of Beaudry-Hermele-Pflaum-Qi-Spiegel-Stephen (arXiv:2501.14241), on constructing a classifying space for phases of matrix product states (MPS).