Today

  • Mathematical Physics and Algebraic Geometry Seminar

    Verlinde’s formula in logarithmic conformal field theory

    CMSA Room G10 CMSA, 20 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA, United States

    Mathematical Physics and Algebraic Geometry Seminar Speaker: Thomas Creutzig (University of Alberta) Title: Verlinde's formula in logarithmic conformal field theory Abstract: Two-dimensional conformal field theories lead to rich mathematical structure. For example its chiral algebra is a vertex algebra and the axioms of rational conformal field theory define modular tensor categories. A highlight of this development […]

  • Positive scalar curvature with point singularities

    CMSA Room G10 CMSA, 20 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA, United States

    https://youtu.be/m9B003wQ0PY General Relativity Seminar Speaker: Rudolf Zeidler, Mathematical Institute, University of Münster Title: Positive scalar curvature with point singularities Abstract: I will explain a certain topological construction of positive scalar curvature metrics with uniformly Euclidean ($L^\infty$) point singularities. This provides counterexamples to a conjecture of Schoen. It also shows that there are metrics with uniformly Euclidean […]

  • Comments on Non-Invertible Symmetries in K3 CFTs and the Conway Moonshine Module

    CMSA Room G10 CMSA, 20 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA, United States

    Quantum Field Theory and Physical Mathematics Seminar Speaker: Sarah Harrison, Northeastern Title: Comments on Non-Invertible Symmetries in K3 CFTs and the Conway Moonshine Module Abstract: There is an established connection between discrete symmetry groups of K3 non-linear sigma models and a distinguished N=1 chiral SCFT called the Conway moonshine module. More specifically, all symmetry groups […]

  • A Tetrahedral Approach to Calabi-Yau Geometry

    CMSA Room G10 CMSA, 20 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA, United States

    Member Seminar Speaker: Charles Doran, CMSA Title: A Tetrahedral Approach to Calabi-Yau Geometry Abstract:  We will open with a quick introduction to the what and why of Calabi-Yau geometry.  Following this, we will consider the problem of deforming tetrahedra while preserving the areas of their faces, following our noses to discover a beautiful path to […]

  • Mathematical Physics and Algebraic Geometry Seminar

    Physical Yukawa Couplings in Heterotic String Compactifications

    CMSA Room G10 CMSA, 20 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA, United States

    Mathematical Physics and Algebraic Geometry Seminar Speaker: Giorgi Butbaia, University of New Hampshire Title: Physical Yukawa Couplings in Heterotic String Compactifications Abstract: Calabi-Yau compactifications of the $E_8\times E_8$ heterotic string provide a promising route to recovering the four-dimensional particle physics described by the Standard Model. While the topology of the Calabi-Yau space determines the overall […]

  • Featured

    Large value estimates in number theory and computer science

    CMSA Room G10 CMSA, 20 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA, United States

    Colloquium Speaker: Larry Guth, MIT Title: Large value estimates in number theory and computer science Abstract: A large value estimate for a matrix M is a simple type of estimate in quantitative linear algebra. Estimates of this type appear in many parts of math, both pure and applied. One example is the large value problem for […]

  • Quantum Field Theory and Physical Mathematics

    CMSA Room G10 CMSA, 20 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA, United States

    Quantum Field Theory and Physical Mathematics Seminar Speaker: Kai Xu, Harvard Title: Finite Landscape of 6d N=(1,0) Supergravity Abstract: We present a bottom-up argument showing that the number of massless fields in six-dimensional quantum gravitational theories with eight supercharges is uniformly bounded. Specifically, we show that the number of tensor multiplets is bounded by T≤193, and the […]

  • The Combinatorics of the Amplituhedron – Tiles, Tilings, and Cluster Algebras

    CMSA Room G10 CMSA, 20 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA, United States

    Member Seminar Speaker: Matteo Parisi Title: The Combinatorics of the Amplituhedron – Tiles, Tilings, and Cluster Algebras Abstract: The amplituhedron is the image of the positive Grassmannian—the region of the Grassmannian where all Plücker coordinates are nonnegative—under a totally positive linear map. It is a far-reaching generalization of cyclic polytopes and hyperplane arrangements, and the positive […]

  • Mathematical Physics and Algebraic Geometry Seminar

    2d chiral Lagrangian for asymptotic dynamics for 4d (self-dual) Einstein gravity

    CMSA Room G10 CMSA, 20 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA, United States

    Mathematical Physics and Algebraic Geometry Seminar Speaker: Wei Bu (Harvard University) Title: 2d chiral Lagrangian for asymptotic dynamics for 4d (self-dual) Einstein gravity Abstract: In this talk, I will present a simple chiral 2d Lagrangian living on a 2d celestial sphere on the null boundary of 4d Minkowski space and briefly mention its first principal […]

  • BKL bounces outside homogeneity

    CMSA Room G10 CMSA, 20 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA, United States

    https://youtu.be/g8V7VeQwDtk General Relativity Seminar Speaker: Warren Li ( Princeton University) Title: BKL bounces outside homogeneity Abstract: In work spanning the late 20th century, physicists Belinski, Khalatnikov and Lifshitz (BKL) proposed a general ansatz for solutions to the Einstein (vacuum) equations near singularities. They suggest that the spacetime dynamics at different spatial points on the singularity decouple […]

  • Toward constructing a large-scale quantum computer based on TQFT

    CMSA Room G10 CMSA, 20 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA, United States

    Quantum Field Theory and Physical Mathematics Seminar Speaker: Liyuan Chen ( Harvard) Title: Toward constructing a large-scale quantum computer based on TQFT Abstract: Topological quantum computation, motivated by topological quantum field theory (TQFT), offers a promising path toward fault-tolerant universal quantum computation. However, the practical realization of such a system remains challenging due to the […]

  • Jack polynomials and enumeration of non-orientable maps

    CMSA Room G10 CMSA, 20 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA, United States

    Member Seminar Speaker: Houcine Ben Dali, Harvard CMSA Title: Jack polynomials and enumeration of non-orientable maps Abstract: A map is a graph embedded on a surface, which may be orientable or not. The representation theory of the symmetric group can be used to write the generating series of maps on orientable surfaces using Schur symmetric functions. Several […]