Algebraic Geometry in String Theory Seminar Speaker: Sheldon Katz, UIUC Title: Stacky small resolutions of determinantal octic double solids and noncommutative Gopakumar-Vafa invariants Abstract: A determinantal octic double solid is the double cover X of P^3 branched along the degree 8 determinant of a symmetric matrix of homogeneous forms on P^3. These X are nodal […]
Algebraic Geometry in String Theory Seminar Speaker: An Huang (Brandeis) Pre-talk Speaker: TBA: 10:00-10:30 am Title: A p-adic Laplacian on the Tate curve Abstract: We shall first explain the relation between a family of deformations of genus zero p-adic string worldsheet action and Tate's thesis. We then propose a genus one p-adic string worldsheet action. […]
Algebraic Geometry in String Theory Seminar Speaker: Maksym Fedorchuk (Boston College) Title: CM-minimizers and standard models of Fano fibrations over curves Abstract: A recent achievement in K-stability of Fano varieties is an algebro-geometric construction of a projective moduli space of K-polystable Fanos. The ample line bundle on this moduli space is the CM line bundle […]
Algebraic Geometry in String Theory Seminar Speaker: Thorsten Schimannek (Utrecht University) Title: M-theory on nodal Calabi-Yau 3-folds and torsion refined GV-invariants Abstract: The physics of M-theory and Type IIA strings on a projective nodal CY 3-folds is determined by the geometry of a small resolution, even if the latter is not Kähler. We will demonstrate this […]
CMSA Member Seminar Speaker: Iacopo Brivio (Harvard) Title: Anti-Iitaka conjecture in positive characteristic Abstract: Given a smooth projective variety, its Kodaira dimension kappa(K_X) is an important invariant that measures the rate of growth of m-pluricanonical forms as a function of m. It serves as an higher-dimensional generalization of the genus of a Riemann surface. If f : X […]
Algebraic Geometry in String Theory Seminar Speaker: Max Weinreich (Harvard) Title: Algebraic billiards and dynamical degrees Abstract: Billiards is one of the most-studied dynamical systems, modeling the behavior of a point particle bouncing around some space. If the space is a plane region bounded by an algebraic curve, then we may use techniques from algebraic geometry […]
CMSA Member Seminar Speaker: Freid Tong (Harvard CMSA) Title: On complete Calabi-Yau metrics and Monge-Ampere equations Abstract: Calabi-Yau metrics are central objects in K\"ahler geometry and also string theory. The existence of Calabi-Yau metrics on compact manifolds was answered by Yau in his solution of the Calabi conjecture, but the situation in the non-compact setting is much more delicate, and many questions related to the existence […]
Algebraic Geometry in String Theory Seminar Speaker: Iacopo Brivio (Harvard CMSA) Title: On (semi)stable reduction and KSBA moduli in positive characteristic Abstract: The moduli space M_g of genus g stable curves is perhaps the most studied of all algebraic varieties. Its higher-dimensional generalization is the moduli functor M_{n,v} of n-dimension stable varieties of volume v. It […]
CMSA Member Seminar Speaker: Benjamin McKenna (Harvard) Title: The spectrum of some nonlinear random matrices Abstract: Modern data science often requires one to consider "nonlinear random matrices," a broad term for random-matrix models whose construction involves a nonlinear function applied entrywise. Such models are typically far from classical random matrix theory, and in principle entrywise nonlinearities can affect the […]
CMSA Member Seminar Speaker: Damian van de Heisteeg (Harvard CMSA) Title: Symmetries and algebraicity in the flux landscape Abstract: In this talk I consider potentials coming from fluxes in string theory. The minima of these potentials trace out special loci in the moduli space of Calabi-Yau manifolds. I discuss the structure that underlies these minima from a Hodge-theoretic […]
Algebraic Geometry in String Theory Seminar Speaker: Yan Zhou, Northeastern Title: Geometric origins of values of the Riemann Zeta functions at positive integers Abstract: Given a Fano manifold, Iritani proposed that the asymptotic behavior of solutions to the quantum differential equation of the Fano should be given by the so-called ‘Gamma class’ in its cohomology ring. […]
CMSA Member Seminar Speaker: Uri Kol (Harvard CMSA) Title: Integrability and Hidden Symmetries in Black Hole Dynamics Abstract: The last decade has produced a number of remarkable discoveries, such as the first direct observation of gravitational waves by the LIGO/Virgo collaboration and the first black hole image taken by the Event Horizon Telescope. These discoveries mark the beginning of a […]