Geometry and Quantum Theory Seminar Speaker: Ben Gammage, Harvard University Title: Boundaries and duality for 3d gauge theories Abstract: 3d N=4 supersymmetric gauge theory has a pair of topological twists, the A-model and B-model, the latter of which is also known as Rozansky-Witten theory. Conjecturally, boundary conditions for these TFTs ought to admit descriptions in […]
Colloquium Speaker: Martin Nowak (Harvard) Title: The mathematics of evolution Abstract: All living systems are guided by evolutionary dynamics. Evolution is a search process which occurs in populations of reproducing individuals. The three fundamental forces of evolution are mutation, selection and cooperation. I will present basic ideas in the mathematical description of evolutionary dynamics, including quasi-species theory, evolutionary […]
Geometry and Quantum Theory Seminar Speaker: Dan Freed, Harvard University Title: Introduction to Factorization algebras
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.
Colloquium Speaker: Anastasia Volovich, Brown University Title: Mathematical Structures of Scattering Amplitudes Abstract: Planar N=4 Yang-Mills scattering amplitudes have been computed to very high loop order. They have many remarkable properties that have sparked interest from mathematicians working on combinatorics, algebraic geometry, and number theory. At the same time, several methods that have been developed […]
Colloquium Speaker: Russell Miller, CUNY Title: Computability on $\mathbb R$ and other continuum-size structures Abstract: We begin by recalling the notion of a computable function on the real numbers $\mathbb R$, developed independently by Gregorczyk and Lacombe over sixty years ago. Using this notion, we note that the real numbers that are themselves computable form […]
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
Colloquium Speaker: Nick Trefethen, Harvard University Title: Rational approximation and the AAA algorithm Approximation by rational functions used to be mainly a theoretical subject, but with the introduction of the AAA algorithm in 2018, it became computationally practical and indeed easy. The implications for what we can do numerically are enormous. This talk will outline […]
Geometry and Quantum Theory Seminar Speaker: Sunghyuk Park, Harvard CMSA Title: Blob homology
Colloquium Speaker: Michael Douglas, Harvard CMSA Title: AI in math and theoretical physics: status and prospects Abstract: AI is making great progress and has the potential to change how we work in unprecedented ways. In this talk I will survey a few recent works which illustrate the state of the art, some from my own research, […]