Differential Geometry and Physics Seminar Speaker: Surena Hozoori (Brandeis) Title: Strongly adapted contact geometry of Anosov 3-flows Abstract: We will discuss some recent developments in the contact geometric theory of Anosov 3-flows, whose roots go back to the works of Mitsumatsu and Eliashberg-Thurston in the mid 1990s. In particular, we provide a contact geometric characterization […]
Quantum Field Theory and Physical Mathematics Seminar Speaker: Davide Gaiotto (Perimeter Institute)
Colloquium Speaker: L. Mahadevan, Harvard Title: Inverse problems in soft and active matter Abstract: How can one grow a face or a flower from a flat sheet? Fold a sheet into an origami pattern? Control phase separation? Transport a drop of active matter? Steer an ant swarm? I will discuss potential answers to some of […]
Member Seminar Speaker: Saman Habibi Esfahani, CMSA Title: Gauge theory, from low dimensions to higher dimensions and back Abstract: Almost thirty years ago, Donaldson and Thomas proposed extending powerful ideas from gauge theory, which had transformed the study of three- and four-dimensional manifolds, to higher dimensions, with the goal of defining new invariants of special […]
Differential Geometry and Physics Seminar Speaker: Mirjam Cvetic, University of Pennsylvania Title: Higher Symmetries, Eta Invariants and Anomaly Theories Abstract: In recent years, much progress has been made in understanding the extra-dimensional origin of higher symmetry structures of many quantum field theories (QFTs) obtained via geometric engineering. Among others, our understanding of anomaly structures in QFTs has […]
New Technologies in Mathematics Seminar Speaker: Courtney Paquette, McGill University Title: Scaling Stochastic Momentum from Theory to LLMs Abstract: Given the massive scale of modern ML models, we now often get only a single shot to train them effectively. This limits our ability to sweep architectures and hyperparameters, making it essential to understand how learning algorithms scale […]
Member Seminar Speaker: Blake Bordelon, CMSA Title: Theory of Task-Adapted Dynamics in Large Recurrent Neural Networks Abstract: Recurrent neural networks (RNNs) encode expressive and flexible dynamical systems which can adapt to perform tasks by modifying the internal connections between neurons. In this work we analyze the structure of the dynamical systems encoded in RNNs after […]
Geometry and Quantum Theory Seminar Speaker: William Stewart Title: Constructing oriented TQFTs from twisted pivotal tensor categories Abstract: The cobordism hypothesis classifies n-dimensional oriented TQFTs in terms of SO(n) homotopy fixed point data. An SO(2) homotopy fixed point structure on a finite tensor category gives rise to a twisted pivotal structure (a more general notion […]
Differential Geometry and Physics Seminar Speaker: Greg Moore, Rutgers University Title: Topics in the Relation of Four-Manifold Invariants and Supersymmetric Field Theory Abstract: We will begin with a review of topological twisting as a choice of background fields. We then review the standard paradigm for the formulation of Donaldson invariants as correlation functions in twisted supersymmetric […]
Member Seminar Speaker: Lorenzo Riva, Harvard CMSA Title: A leisurely stroll through the theory of adjunctions Abstract: Adjoint functors (and, more generally, adjunctions in a 2-category) are ubiquitous in algebra and topology. In this talk I will give an overview of the basics of adjunctions, with the ultimate goal being understanding the statement of the […]
Differential Geometry and Physics Seminar Speaker: Gabor Szekelyhidi, Northwestern University Title: Gromov-Hausdorff limits of collapsing Calabi-Yau fibrations Abstract: A well studied problem is the metric behavior of Calabi-Yau metrics on a fibration in a family of Kahler classes that collapses the fibers. I will discuss recent progress showing that the Gromov-Hausdorff limit can be identified […]
Colloquium Speaker: Pankaj Metha, Boston University Title: Phase Transition to Chaos in Complex Ecosystems with Non-reciprocal Interactions Abstract: Nonreciprocal interactions between microscopic constituents can profoundly shape the large-scale properties of complex systems. In this pedagogical chalk talk, I will discuss recent work from our group on phase transitions and chaos in high-dimensional ecosystems with non-reciprocal […]