Differential Geometry and Physics Seminar Speaker: Ron Donagi, UPenn Title: On some new irrationality results Abstract: An algebraic variety X is rational if a Zariski-open subset of X is isomorphic to a Zariski-open subset of projective space. A weaker property is unirationality: X is unirational if a Zariski-open subset of projective space maps onto a Zariski-open […]
Algebra Seminar Speaker: Zhiwei Yun, MIT Title: Character sheaves on the loop Lie algebra and its global implications Abstract: Motivated by Lusztig's definition of character sheaves on a reductive Lie algebra, we propose a definition of character sheaves on the loop Lie algebra. The construction can be viewed as a p-adic analogue of the orbit […]
Quantum Field Theory and Physical Mathematics Seminar Speaker: Adrian López-Raven, Perimeter Title: Categorical 't Hooft expansion and Chiral Algebras Abstract: In https://arxiv.org/abs/2411.00760, we show how holographic dual B-model backgrounds can be systematically derived from the 't Hooft expansion of specific families of chiral algebras. The resulting holographic dual backgrounds are typically non-commutative and appear to be […]
Differential Geometry and Physics Seminar Speaker: Andy Neitzke, Yale Title: Abelianization of tau functions Abstract: The symplectic and hyperkahler geometry of moduli spaces of flat connections over Riemann surfaces is in a sense quantized by the theory of isomonodromic tau functions. These functions in turn arise as partition functions in the conformal field theory of […]
https://youtu.be/vf3pIK9I9HI Differential Geometry and Physics Seminar Speaker: Xingyang Yu, Virginia Tech Title: Symmetries and Moduli Spaces: Baby Steps beyond Calabi-Yau Abstract: I will explore the interplay between symmetries and moduli spaces in string compactifications, starting from the familiar Calabi–Yau case and then taking some baby steps toward more general settings. A classical benchmark is the line […]
Algebra Seminar Speaker: David Treumann (Boston College) Title: Profinite tensor powers Abstract: I'll discuss the problem of defining a tensor product of profinitely many copies of a vector space V, and propose a definition $\bigotimes_X^{mcc} V$ in the special situation that (1) V is finite-dimensional over F_2, and (2) the profinite X indexing the tensor […]
Colloquium Speaker: Alexei Borodin, MIT Title: Geometry of dimer models Abstract: Random dimer coverings of large planar graphs are known to exhibit unusual and visually apparent asymptotic phenomena that include formation of frozen regions and various phases in the unfrozen ones. For a specific family of subgraphs of the (periodically weighted) square lattice known as the Aztec diamonds, the asymptotic behavior of dimers admits a precise description in […]
Differential Geometry and Physics Seminar Speaker: Valentino Tosatti, NYU Courant Institute Title: Special Kähler geometry and collapsing Abstract: Special Kähler geometry was first discovered in the context of N=2 supersymmetric 4D gauge theories, and it also plays a prominent role in mirror symmetry. A key observation of Donagi-Witten and Freed is that the base of every algebraic integrable system […]
Quantum Field Theory and Physical Mathematics Seminar Speaker: Minghao Wang, Boston University Title: Graph integrals on Kahler manifolds Abstract: I will talk about my recent work with Junrong Yan. We proved the convergence of Graph integrals on analytic Kahler manifolds in the sense of Cauchy principal values, which are originally from holomorphic quantum field theories. […]
Differential Geometry and Physics Seminar Speaker: Teng Fei, Rutgers Title: Degeneration of Calabi-Yau 3-folds and 3-forms Abstract: We study the geometries associated to various 3-forms on a symplectic 6-manifold of different orbital types. As an application, we demonstrate how this can be used to find Lagrangian foliations and other geometric structures of interest arising from […]
Colloquium Speaker: David Nelson, Harvard Title: Turbulent Mixing and Antagonistic Microorganisms Abstract: Unlike coffee and cream that homogenize when stirred, growing micro-organisms (e.g., bacteria and baker’s yeast) can actively kill each other and avoid mixing. How do such antagonistic interactions impact the growth and survival of competing strains, while being spatially advected by turbulent flows? […]
Quantum Field Theory and Physical Mathematics Seminar Speaker: Max Hübner (Uppsala & CMSA) Title: Non-Supersymmetric Orbifolds, Quivers and Chen-Ruan Orbifold Cohomology Abstract: We consider D3-brane probes of non-supersymmetric orbifolds and IIA on the same class of non-supersymmetric orbifolds. Both setups are characterized, in part, by quivers (which in the latter case relate for example to D0-brane probes) from which […]