BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//CMSA - ECPv6.15.18//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for CMSA
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/New_York
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20200308T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20201101T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20210314T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20211107T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20220313T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20221106T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20230312T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20231105T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20240310T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20241103T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20250309T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20251102T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20260308T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20261101T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20270314T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20271107T060000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260306T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260306T171500
DTSTAMP:20260421T172602
CREATED:20260205T145433Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260225T152603Z
UID:10003889-1772809200-1772817300@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Freedman Seminar: Mattie Ji\, Penn and Jeongwan Haah\, Stanford
DESCRIPTION:Freedman Seminar \nSpeakers: Mattie Ji (Penn) and Jeongwan Haah (Stanford) \nMattie Ji Title: Quantum Cellular Automata via Algebraic K-Theory \nAbstract: Algebraic K-theory\, on a very high level\, is the study of how to break apart and assemble objects linearly\, which makes the field amenable to classification questions. In this work\, we apply this methodology to study the classification of quantum cellular automata (QCA). Over an arbitrary commutative ring R and a general class of metric spaces X\, we construct a space of QCA that depends only on the large-scale (coarse) geometry of X. We explain how QCA classification groups (QCA modulo circuits) either arise naturally as or are refined by this space in most cases of interest. \nMotivated by negative K-theory\, we also show the classification of QCA on Euclidean lattices is given by an $\Omega$-spectrum indexed by the dimension. As a corollary\, we also obtain a non-connective delooping of the K-theory of Azumaya R-algebras\, whose negative homotopy groups are the QCA classification groups. When R is the complex numbers\, our method can be adapted to yield an $\Omega$-spectrum for QCA of $C^*$-algebras with unitary circuits. This talk is based on joint work with Bowen Yang. \n  \nJeongwan Haah Title: Fermionic QCA in 2d are trivial \nAbstract: We consider bounded spread automorphisms of Z/2-graded algebra (fermionic QCA) on the two-dimensional lattice and prove that every fQCA is a unitary circuit followed by fermionic shifts when stabilized by Majorana modes. This is an analog of a theorem by Freedman and Hastings for the case of ungraded algebras. The overall argument follows a similar line in that we show invertible subalgebras in 1d is trivial\, but the stabilization is used crucially. By an existing argument\, this triviality of fQCA in 2d implies that the 3d (bosonic) QCA that disentangles the Walker-Wang model with three-fermion theory is nontrivial. The latter was known to be nontrivial against Clifford gates but remained conjectural against more general unitary gates. To my knowledge\, this gives the only example ungraded QCA that is proved to be nontrivial against general unitary circuits and shifts\, and the only example ungraded invertible subalgebra that is not isomorphic to any tensor product algebra. I will explain elements new to the fermionic setting and give an overview of the nontriviality argument. (Based on an upcoming work with Jeffrey Kwan and David Long)
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/freedman_3626/
LOCATION:Hybrid
CATEGORIES:Freedman Seminar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/media/CMSA-Freedman-Seminar-3.6.26-scaled.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260130T133000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260130T163000
DTSTAMP:20260421T172602
CREATED:20260108T211634Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260122T164709Z
UID:10003870-1769779800-1769790600@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Freedman Seminar: Michael Freedman\, CMSA & Slava Krushkal\, University of Virginia
DESCRIPTION:Freedman Seminar \nSpeakers: Michael Freedman\, CMSA and Slava Krushkal\, University of Virginia (2-3 pm and 3:15-4:15 pm) \nTitle: Formulating 4D surgery for AI agents \nAbstract: The topological category surgery exact sequence is still open for free groups (and most groups of exponential growth). The lack of knowledge is about both surgery and s-cobordism; and the source of the mystery is the same in both cases. Thinking about how to present this problem to AIs has had its own value. In a pair of talks we will explain how we have thought about the problem in the past and how we are thinking about it now.
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/freedman_13026/
LOCATION:Hybrid
CATEGORIES:Freedman Seminar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/media/CMSA-Freedman-Seminar-1.30.26-1-scaled.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250630T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250711T170000
DTSTAMP:20260421T172602
CREATED:20240219T200745Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250714T144712Z
UID:10002770-1751274000-1752253200@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Quantum Field Theory and Topological Phases via Homotopy Theory and Operator Algebras
DESCRIPTION:Workshop on Quantum Field Theory and Topological Phases via Homotopy Theory and Operator Algebras \nDates: June 30 – July 11\, 2025 \nLocation: CMSA\, 20 Garden Street\, Cambridge MA and Max Planck Institute for Mathematics\, Bonn\, Germany \nThis event is a twinned workshop at the CMSA (Harvard) and the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics (Bonn). Lectures will alternate between the two sites\, watched simultaneously on both sides\, and there will be opportunities for dialogue between the locations. The first week will contain four pedagogical lecture series; lecturers and locations are \nMichael Hopkins\, Harvard  (CMSA)Alexei Kitaev\, Caltech (CMSA)Pieter Naaijkens\, Cardiff (MPIM)Bruno Nachtergaele\, UC Davis (MPIM) \nThe second week will consist of research talks. \nParticipants are strongly encouraged to attend at the location that minimizes travel and hence the ecological impact of the conference. \nThe application deadline was March 16\, 2025. \nDirections to CMSA \nMPIM-Bonn location: https://www.mpim-bonn.mpg.de/qft25  \n  \nRegister for Zoom Webinar \n  \nQuantum Field Theory (QFT) and Quantum Statistical Mechanics are central to high energy physics and condensed matter physics; they also raise deep questions in mathematics. The application of operator algebras to these areas of physics is well-known. Recent developments indicate that to understand some aspects QFT properly a further ingredient is needed: homotopy theory and infinity-categories. One such development is the recognition that symmetry in a QFT is better described by a homotopy type rather than a group (so-called generalized symmetries). Another one is the work of Lurie and others on extended Topological Field Theory (TFT) and the Baez-Dolan cobordism hypothesis. Finally\, there is a conjecture of Kitaev that invertible phases of matter are classified by homotopy groups of an Omega-spectrum. This workshop will bring together researchers and students approaching this physics using different mathematical techniques: operator algebras\, homotopy theory\, higher category theory\, etc. The goal is to catalyze new interactions between different communities. At the workshop recent developments will be reviewed and hopefully progress can be made on two outstanding problems: the Kitaev conjecture as well as the long-standing goal of finding a proper mathematical formulation for QFT. \nOrganizers: \n\nDan Freed\, Harvard University CMSA & Math\nDennis Gaitsgory\, MPIM Bonn\nOwen Gwilliam\, UMass Amherst\nAnton Kapustin\, Caltech\nCatherine Meusburger\, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg\n\n  \nTalks are recorded and available on the CMSA Youtube Playlist. \n\nBACKGROUND READING \nParticipants are encouraged to have some basic familiarity with the definition of a C*-algebra and quantum spin system. Some knowledge of quantum channels (completely positive trace-preserving maps) and quantum circuits will be useful. Some knowledge of Clifford algebras will also be helpful. \nPossible references include: \n 1) arXiv:1311.2717 (Sections 2.1\, 2.2\, 2.4\, and 2.5 up to Theorem 2.5.3) \n 2) Lectures by Daniel Spiegel on “C*-Algebraic Foundations of Quantum Spin Systems”\, at the Summer School on C*-Algebraic Quantum Mechanics and Topological Phases of Matter\, University of Colorado Boulder\, July 29 to August 2\, 2024. (lecture notes and video recordings: https://sites.google.com/colorado.edu/caqm). \n3) https://nextcloud.tfk.ph.tum.de/etn/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/JvN_lecture_notes_S2016_abcde-1.pdf \n4) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classification_of_Clifford_algebras \n5) Karoubi\, K-theory\, section III.3 \n6.) Alexei Kitaev: A norm bound for 1D local matrices (pdf) \n  \nSchedule Times are Eastern Time  \ndownload schedule pdf \nWorkshop on Quantum Field Theory and Topological Phases via Homotopy Theory and Operator Algebras \nJune 30 – July 11\, 2025 \n  \n\n\n\n\nMonday\, June 30 \n\n\n\n\n8:00–9:00 am \n\n\nMPIM \n\n\nBruno Nachtergaele\, UC Davis \nTitle: Ground states of quantum lattice systems: Quantum Lattice Systems: observables\, dynamics\, ground states\, GNS representation\, ground state gap\, examples \n\n\n\n\n9:00–9:30 am \n\n\n  \n\n\nBreakfast break \n\n\n\n\n9:30–10:30 am \n\n\nCMSA \n\n\nMichael Hopkins\, Harvard \nTitle: Lattice models and topological quantum field theories I \nAbstract: This series will cover the relationship between gapped Hamiltonian lattice models and topological quantum field theories\, with an emphasis on a conjecture of Kitaev. \n\n\n\n\n10:30–10:45 am \n\n\n  \n\n\nbreak \n\n\n\n\n10:45–11:45 am \n\n\nMPIM \n\n\nPieter Naajkens\, Cardiff \nTitle: Introduction to superselection sector theory: Motivation and introduction of basic setting \nAbstract: (week 1 lectures) In this series of lectures\, I will give an introduction to the operator-algebraic (Doplicher-Haag-Roberts) approach to study the superselection sectors of a (2D) gapped quantum spin system. The sectors have a rich mathematical structure of a braided monoidal category. This category describes all the algebraic properties of the ‘anyons’ or ‘charges’ such quantum spin systems can have. The aim of these lectures is to build up this theory from first principles\, using simple examples of topologically ordered models to illustrate the main ideas. If time permits\, I will elaborate on how this fits into the larger programme of the classification of gapped phases of matter\, and long-range entangled states in particular. No prior knowledge of operator algebras or tensor categories is assumed. \nSLIDES (pdf) \n\n\n\n\n11:45 am –12:00 pm \n\n\n  \n\n\nbreak \n\n\n\n\n12:00–1:00 pm \n\n\nCMSA \n\n\nAlexei Kitaev\, Caltech \nTitle: Local definitions of gapped Hamiltonians and topological and invertible states I \n\n\n\n\nTuesday\, July 1 \n\n\n\n\n8:00–9:00 am \n\n\nMPIM \n\n\nBruno Nachtergaele\, UC Davis \nTitle: Ground states of quantum lattice systems: Quasilocality: almost local observables and interactions\, Lieb-Robinson bounds\, quasi-adiabatic evolution\, stability I \n\n\n\n\n9:00–9:30 am \n\n\n  \n\n\nBreakfast break \n\n\n\n\n9:30–10:30 am \n\n\nCMSA \n\n\nMichael Hopkins\, Harvard \nTitle: Lattice models and topological quantum field theories II \n\n\n\n\n10:30–10:45 am \n\n\n  \n\n\nbreak \n\n\n\n\n10:45–11:45 am \n\n\nMPIM \n\n\nPieter Naajkens\, Cardiff \nTitle: Introduction to superselection sector theory: Building the braided (fusion) category of superselection sectors I \nSLIDES (pdf) \n\n\n\n\n11:45 am –12:00 pm \n\n\n  \n\n\nbreak \n\n\n\n\n12:00–1:00 pm \n\n\nCMSA \n\n\nAlexei Kitaev\, Caltech \nTitle: Local definitions of gapped Hamiltonians and topological and invertible states II \n\n\n\n\nWednesday\, July 2 \n\n\n\n\n8:00–9:00 am \n\n\nMPIM \n\n\nBruno Nachtergaele\, UC Davis \nTitle: Ground states of quantum lattice systems: Quantum Entanglement in many-body systems: short-range entangled states\, topological entanglement\, stability II \n\n\n\n\n9:00–9:30 am \n\n\n  \n\n\nBreakfast break \n\n\n\n\n9:30–10:30 am \n\n\nCMSA \n\n\nMichael Hopkins\, Harvard \nTitle: Lattice models and topological quantum field theories III \n\n\n\n\n10:30–10:45 am \n\n\n  \n\n\nbreak \n\n\n\n\n10:45–11:45 am \n\n\nMPIM \n\n\nPieter Naajkens\, Cardiff \nTitle: Introduction to superselection sector theory: Building the braided (fusion) category of superselection sectors II \nSLIDES (pdf) \n\n\n\n\n11:45 am –12:00 pm \n\n\n  \n\n\nbreak \n\n\n\n\n12:00–1:00 pm \n\n\nCMSA \n\n\nAlexei Kitaev\, Caltech \nTitle: Local definitions of gapped Hamiltonians and topological and invertible states III \n\n\n\n\nThursday\, July 3 \n\n\n\n\n8:00–9:00 am \n\n\nMPIM \n\n\nBruno Nachtergaele\, UC Davis \nTitle: Ground states of quantum lattice systems: Quantum Phase Diagrams: order parameters\, topological invariants\, examples \n\n\n\n\n9:00–9:30 am \n\n\n  \n\n\nBreakfast break \n\n\n\n\n9:30–10:30 am \n\n\nCMSA \n\n\nMichael Hopkins\, Harvard \nTitle: Lattice models and topological quantum field theories IV \n\n\n\n\n10:30–10:45 am \n\n\n  \n\n\nbreak \n\n\n\n\n10:45–11:45 am \n\n\nMPIM \n\n\nPieter Naajkens\, Cardiff \nTitle: Introduction to superselection sector theory: Classification of phases and long-range entanglement \nSLIDES (pdf) \n\n\n\n\n11:45 am –12:00 pm \n\n\n  \n\n\nbreak \n\n\n\n\n12:00–1:00 pm \n\n\nCMSA \n\n\nAlexei Kitaev\, Caltech \nTitle: Local definitions of gapped Hamiltonians and topological and invertible states IV \n\n\n\n\nNo talks Friday July 4  \n\n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n\nMonday July 7 \n\n\n\n\n8:00–9:00 am \n\n\nMPIM \n\n\nJackson van Dyke\, TU Munich \nTitle: Moduli spaces of projective 3d TQFTs \nAbstract: A gapped quantum system is well-approximated at low energy by a projective topological field theory. Therefore questions concerning the classification\, symmetries\, and anomalies of gapped quantum systems can be reinterpreted via the homotopy theory of the moduli space of such theories. I will describe a moduli space of 3-dimensional TQFTs\, and the sense in which its homotopy theory informs us about the low energy behavior of gapped systems in 2+1 dimensions. This moduli space depends on the fixed target category: Explicitly\, it is built from the classifying spaces of higher groups of automorphisms of ribbon categories. The emphasis will be on target categories which have convenient algebraic features\, yet are analytically robust enough to allow for boundary/relative theories defined in terms of unitary representations on topological vector spaces. \n\n\n\n\n9:00–9:30 am \n\n\n  \n\n\nBreakfast break \n\n\n\n\n9:30–10:30 am \n\n\nCMSA \n\n\nConstantin Teleman\, UC Berkeley \nTitle: Quantizing homotopy types \nAbstract: Kontsevich (90’s) proposed a topological quantization of (sigma-models into) finite homotopy types to top dimensions (d\, d+1). Its enhancement to a `fully extended’ TQFT was described later (Freed\, Hopkins\, Lurie and the speaker) in the target category of iterated algebras. Independently\, Chas and Sullivan constructed a (partially defined) 2-dimensional TQFT (d=1) with target compact oriented manifolds. I will briefly review the features of the finite homotopy theory and its boundary conditions\, with particular interest in Dirichlet conditions; their analogue in Chas-Sullivan theory (older work by Blumberg\, Cohen and the speaker). Finally\, I propose a generalization combining these to a higher-dimensional Chas-Sullivan theory. \nSlides (link) \n\n\n\n\n10:30–10:45 am \n\n\n  \n\n\nbreak \n\n\n\n\n10:45–11:45 am \n\n\nMPIM \n\n\nMatthias Ludewig\, University of Greifswald \nTitle: Generalized Kitaev Pairings and Higher Berry curvature in coarse geometry \nAbstract: In Appendix C of his “Anyons” paper\, Kitaev introduced the notion of a “generalized Chern number” for a 2-dimensional system by diving the system in three ordered parts and measuring a signed rotational flux. This construction has since been used by several authors to measure topological non-triviality of a physical system. In recent work with Guo Chuan Thiang\, we observe that the recipe provided by Kitaev can be interpreted in coarse geometry as the pairing of a K-theory class with a coarse cohomology class. A corresponding index theorem then provides a proof that the set of values of this “Kitaev pairing” is always quantized\, as already argued by Kitaev. In our work\, we generalize Kitaev’s definition and the corresponding quantization result to arbitrary dimensions. By replacing a single Hamiltonian with a whole family of Hamiltonians (parametrized by a space X)\, we recover and extend the construction of “Higher Berry curvatures” by Kapustin and Spodyneiko. Given a coarse cohomology class\, we obtain a characteristic class on the parameter space X\, which is integral whenever integrated against a cycle in X that lies in the image of the homological Chern character (so\, in particular\, spheres in X). \n\n\n\n\n11:45 am –12:00 pm \n\n\n  \n\n\nbreak \n\n\n\n\n12:00–1:00 pm \n\n\nCMSA \n\n\nTheo Johnson-Freyd\, Perimeter Institute \nTitle: Some thoughts about the Kapustin–Kitaev cobordism conjecture \nAbstract: In 2013\, Kitaev explained that\, under some reasonable locality hypotheses\, gapped invertible phases of bosonic lattice models in different dimensions are naturally organized into an \Omega-spectrum. The following year\, Kapustin conjectured that this spectrum is dual to a Thom spectrum\, specifically (smooth) oriented bordism MSO\, and that for fermionic lattice models one sees instead the dual to spin bordism. In 2016\, Freed and Hopkins proved Kapustin’s conjecture for invertible phases of continuous unitary QFTs valued in an at-the-time conjectural universal target category. Freed and Hopkins put bordism categories into the statement of the problem\, by working from the beginning with continuous QFTs. Kapustin’s conjecture for lattice models remains open.David Reutter and I\, in ongoing work in progress\, have investigating Kapustin’s conjecture from the perspective of deeper category theory. We have built the universal target category for phases satisfying a finite semisimplicity hypothesis\, and we are working on relaxing finite semisimplicity. We can show that any spectrum of invertible finite-semisimple phases will indeed be dual to a Thom spectrum for some topological group G acting on the spectrum of spheres. For example\, if one looks just at those bosonic phases which can be topologically condensed from the vacuum\, G is almost the (oriented) piecewise linear group\, whose Thom spectrum is the bordism spectrum MSPL is the (oriented) *piecewise* smooth manifolds; the difference between MSPL and MSO is only visible in dimensions 7 and above. I say almost because in fact our G is what you would get if you tried to build MSPL\, but could only make finitary measurements\, which surely is explained by our restriction to condensable semisimple TQFTs. We conjecture that MSPL\, rather than MSO\, classifies invertible gapped phases of bosonic lattice models.The general relation between MSPL and topological phases is explained by a certain “surgery exact sequence” for topological phases that mirrors the surgery sequence for MSPL. By studying this sequence\, we can also answer the question of which invertible phases admit a gapped boundary condition. In particular that only (the trivial phase and) the Arf–Kervaire invariants admit finite-semisimple gapped boundary conditions. \nSLIDES (pdf) \n\n\n\n\nTuesday\, July 8 \n\n\n\n\n8:00–9:00 am \n\n\nMPIM \n\n\nDavid Reutter\, University of Hamburg \nTitle: On the categorical spectrum of topological quantum field theories \nAbstract: As originally suggested by Kitaev\, invertible topological quantum field theories of varying dimensions should assemble into a spectrum/generalized homology theory. A candidate for such a spectrum of invertible TQFTs was proposed by Freed and Hopkins\, with the defining property that (isomorphism classes of) n-dimensional invertible TQFTs are completely determined by their partition functions on closed n-manifolds. More generally\, not-necessarily-invertible TQFTs should assemble into a ‘categorical spectrum’\, an analogue of a spectrum with non-invertible cells at each level. In this talk\, I will explain that there exists a unique such categorical spectrum satisfying a list of reasonable assumptions on the collection of (compact/very finite & discrete) TQFTs; one of these assumptions being that its invertibles agree with Freed and Hopkins’ suggestion. I will explain these assumptions\, sketch how this categorical spectrum looks like in low-dimensions\, outline its construction\, and how it may be used to learn about gapped boundaries of anomaly theories in high dimensions. This is based on work in progress with Theo Johnson-Freyd. \n\n\n\n\n9:00–9:30 am \n\n\n  \n\n\nBreakfast break \n\n\n\n\n9:30–10:30 am \n\n\nCMSA \n\n\nAgnes Beaudry\, UC Boulder \nTitle: An algebraic theory of planon-only fracton orders \nAbstract: In this talk\, I will describe an algebraic theory for planon-only abelian fracton orders. These are three-dimensional gapped phases with the property that fractional excitations are abelian particles restricted to move in parallel planes. The fusion and statistics data can be identified with a finitely generated module over a Laurent polynomial ring together with a U(1)-valued quadratic form. These systems thus lend themselves to an elegant algebraic theory which we expect will lead to easily computable phase invariants and a classification. As a starting point\, we establish a necessary condition for physical realizability\, the excitation-detector principle\, which I will explain. We conjecture that this criterion is also sufficient for realizability. I will also discuss preliminary classification results.This talk is based on joint with Michael Hermele\, Wilbur Shirley and Evan Wickenden. \n\n\n\n\n10:30–10:45 am \n\n\n  \n\n\nbreak \n\n\n\n\n10:45–11:45 am \n\n\nMPIM \n\n\nJoão Faria Martins\, University of Leeds \nTitle: A categorification of Quinn’s finite total homotopy TQFT with application to TQFTs and once-extended TQFTs derived from discrete higher gauge theory \nAbstract: Quinn’s Finite Total Homotopy TQFT is a topological quantum field theory defined for any dimension n of space\, depending on the choice of a homotopy finite space B. For instance\, B can be the classifying space of a finite group or a finite 2-group.In this talk\, I will report on recent joint work with Tim Porter on once-extended versions of Quinn’s Finite Total Homotopy TQFT\, taking values in the symmetric monoidal bicategory of groupoids\, linear profunctors\, and natural transformations between linear profunctors. The construction works in all dimensions\, yielding (0\,1\,2)-\, (1\,2\,3)-\, and (2\,3\,4)-extended TQFTs\, given a homotopy finite space B. I will  show how to compute these once-extended TQFTs when B is the classifying space of a homotopy 2-type\, represented by a crossed module of groups.Reference: Faria Martins J\, Porter T: “A categorification of Quinn’s finite total homotopy TQFT with application to TQFTs and once-extended TQFTs derived from strict omega-groupoids.” arXiv:2301.02491 [math.CT] \n\n\n\n\n11:45 am –12:00 pm \n\n\n  \n\n\nbreak \n\n\n\n\n12:00–1:00 pm \n\n\nCMSA \n\n\nEmil Prodan\, Yeshiva University \nTitle: Mapping the landscape of frustration-free models \nAbstract: Frustration-free models are of great interest because they are amenable to specialized techniques and their understanding is more complete among the general quantum spin models. In this talk\, I will establish an almost bijective relation between frustration-free families of projections and a subclass of hereditary subalgebras defined by an intrinsic property. This relation sets further synergies between frustration-free models and open projections in double duals\, and subsets of pure states spaces. These connections enable a better understanding of the class of frustration-free models. For example\, the open projections in the double dual derived from frustration-free models is dense in the norm-topology in the space of generic open projections\, thus assuring us that\, for many purposes\, we can choose to work with frustration-free models without losing generality. Furthermore\, the Cuntz semigroup\, originally designed to classify the positive elements of C*-algebra\, has been proven to also classify the open projections. Given the mentioned connections\, we now have a new device to investigate the ground states of quantum spin models. \nSLIDES (pdf) \n\n\n\n\nWednesday\, July 9 \n\n\n\n\n8:00–9:00 am \n\n\nMPIM \n\n\nAlexander Schenkel\, University of Nottingham \nTitle: C*-categorical prefactorization algebras for superselection sectors and topological order \nAbstract: I will present a geometric framework to encode the algebraic structures on the category of superselection sectors of an algebraic quantum field theory on the n-dimensional lattice Z^n. I will show that\, under certain assumptions which are implied by Haag duality\, the monoidal C*-categories of localized superselection sectors carry the structure of a locally constant prefactorization algebra over the category of cone-shaped subsets of Z^n. Employing techniques from higher algebra\, one extracts from this datum an underlying locally constant prefactorization algebra defined on open disks in the cylinder R^1 x S^{n-1}. While the sphere S^{n-1} arises geometrically as the angular coordinates of cones\, the origin of the line R^1 is analytic and rooted in Haag duality. The usual braided (for n=2) or symmetric (for n>2) monoidal C*-categories of superselection sectors are recovered by removing a point of the sphere and using the equivalence between E_n-algebras and locally constant prefactorization algebras defined on open disks in R^n. The non-trivial homotopy groups of spheres induce additional algebraic structures on these E_n-monoidal C*-categories\, which in the simplest case of Z^2 is given by a braided monoidal self-equivalence arising geometrically as a kind of ‘holonomy’ around the circle S^1.This talk is based on joint work with Marco Benini\, Victor Carmona and Pieter Naaijkens. \n\n\n\n\n9:00–9:30 am \n\n\n  \n\n\nBreakfast break \n\n\n\n\n9:30–10:30 am \n\n\nCMSA \n\n\nLukasz Fidkowski\, University of Washington \nTitle: Non-invertible bosonic chiral symmetry on the lattice \nAbstract: We construct a Hamiltonian lattice realization of the non-invertible chiral symmetry that mimics an axial rotation at a rational angle in a U(1) gauge theory with bosonic charged matter.  We provide a heuristic argument that this setup allows a symmetric Hamiltonian which flows\, at low energies\, to a known field theory with this symmetry. \n\n\n\n\n10:30–10:45 am \n\n\n  \n\n\nbreak \n\n\n\n\n10:45–11:45 am \n\n\nMPIM \n\n\nNils Carqueville\, University of Vienna \nTitle: Gauging categorical symmetries \nAbstract: Orbifold data are categorical symmetries that can be gauged in oriented defect topological quantum field theories. We review the general construction and apply it to 2-group symmetries of 3-dimensional TQFTs; upon further specialisation this leads to equivariantisation of G-crossed braided fusion categories. We also describe a proposal\, via higher dagger categories\, to gauging categorical symmetries in the context of other tangential structures. This is based on separate projects with Benjamin Haake and Tim Lüders. \n\n\n\n\n11:45 am –12:00 pm \n\n\n  \n\n\nbreak \n\n\n\n\n12:00–1:00 pm \n\n\nCMSA \n\n\nNikita Sopenko\, IAS \nTitle: Reflection positivity and invertible phases of 2d quantum many-body systems \nAbstract: Reflection positivity is a property that is usually taken as an assumption in the classification of topological phases of matter via continuous quantum field theories. For general quantum many-body systems\, this property does not hold. This raises the question of whether it somehow emerges in the effective theory from the microscopic description\, thereby justifying the field-theoretic approach.In this talk\, I will discuss reflection positivity in the context of invertible phases of two-dimensional lattice systems. I will explain why every such phase admits a reflection-positive representative\, and why inverse phases are represented by complex conjugate states. I will also introduce an index that distinguishes these phases and is conjecturally related to the chiral central charge. \n\n\n\n\nThursday\, July 10 \n\n\n\n\n8:00–9:00 am \n\n\nMPIM \n\n\nIlka Brunner\, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich \nTitle: Defects as functors between phases of Abelian gauged linear sigma models \nAbstract: Defects act naturally on boundary conditions\, providing functors between D-brane categories. In the context of gauged linear sigma models\, one can use defects to transport branes from one phase to another. In this talk\, I will show how to construct such defects explicitly. \n\n\n\n\n9:00–9:30 am \n\n\n  \n\n\nBreakfast break \n\n\n\n\n9:30–10:30 am \n\n\nCMSA \n\n\nDavid Penneys\, Ohio State \nTitle: Holography for bulk-boundary local topological order \nAbstract: In previous joint work [arXiv:2307.12552] with C. Jones\, Naaijkins and Wallick\, we introduced local topological order (LTO) axioms for quantum spin systems which allowed us to define a physical boundary manifested by a net of boundary algebras in one dimension lower. This gives a formal setting for topological holography\, where the braided tensor category of DHR bimodules of the physical boundary algebra captures the bulk topological order.In joint work with C. Jones and Naaijkens\, we extend the LTO axioms to quantum spin systems equipped with a topological boundary\, again producing a physical boundary algebra for the bulk-boundary system\, whose category of (topological) boundary DHR bimodules recovers the topological boundary order. We perform this analysis in explicit detail for Levin-Wen and Walker-Wang bulk-boundary systems.Along the way\, we introduce a 2D braided categorical net of algebras built from a unitary braided fusion category (UBFC)\, which arise as boundary algebras of Walker-Wang models. We consider the canonical state on this braided categorical net corresponding to the standard topological boundary for the Walker-Wang model. Interestingly\, in this state\, the cone von Neumann algebras are type I with finite dimensional centers\, in contrast with the type II and III cone von Neumann algebras from the Levin-Wen models studied in [arXiv:2307.12552]. Their superselection sectors recover the underlying unitary category of our UBFC\, and we conjecture the superselection category also captures the fusion and braiding. \n\n\n\n\n10:30–10:45 am \n\n\n  \n\n\nbreak \n\n\n\n\n10:45–11:45 am \n\n\nMPIM \n\n\nChristoph Schweigert\, University of Hamburg \nTitle: Tensor network states: a topological field theory perspective. \nAbstract: Projected entangled pair states (PEPS) and matrix product operators (MPO) are standard tools in quantum information theory and quantum many-body physics. We explain how to understand them in terms of Turaev-Viro models on manifolds with boundary. We then sketch how a recently developed categorical Morita theory for spherical module categories can be used to find generalizations of the standard PEPS tensors. \n\n\n\n\n11:45 am –12:00 pm \n\n\n  \n\n\nbreak \n\n\n\n\n12:00–1:00 pm \n\n\nCMSA \n\n\nGreg Moore\, Rutgers \nTitle: p-form puzzles \nAbstract: It is commonly stated that level k BF theory for a p-form (and a form of complementary dimension) is equivalent to a homotopy sigma model with target space K(A\,p) where A is a cyclic group of order k.  Some aspects of this standard statement are puzzling me. I’ll explain what they are. (Perhaps someone in the audience can resolve my puzzles.) Then I’ll revisit the (again standard) electromagnetic duality of p-form electrodynamics. The conclusion will be that a slightly modified version of Ray-Singer torsion is the partition function of an invertible topological field theory. \n\n\n\n\nFriday\, July 11Note: On Friday\, there will be separate schedules for Bonn and CMSA. \nTo view the Bonn schedule\, please visit the program page at: https://www.mpim-bonn.mpg.de/qft25 \n\n\n\n\n8:00–9:00 am \n\n\nCMSA \n\n\nMarkus Pflaum\, UC Boulder \nTitle: A tour d’horizon through homotopical aspects of C*-algebraic quantum spin systems \nAbstract: In the talk I report on joint work with Beaudry\, Hermele\, Moreno\, Qi and Spiegel\, where a homotopy theoretic framework for studying state spaces of quantum lattice spin systems has been introduced using the language of C*-algebraic quantum mechanics. First some old and new results about the state space of the quasi-local algebra of a quantum lattice spin system when endowed with either the natural metric topology or the weak* topology will be presented. Switching to the algebraic topological side\, the homotopy groups of the unitary group of a UHF algebra will then be determined and it will be indicated that the pure state space of any UHF algebra in the weak* topology is weakly contractible. In addition\, I will show at the example of non-commutative tori that also in the case of a not commutative C*-algebra\, the homotopy type of the state space endowed with the weak* topology can be non-trivial and is neither deformation nor Morita invariant. Finally\, I indicate how such tools together with methods from higher homotopy theory such as E_infinity spaces may lead to a framework for constructing Kitaev’s loop-spectrum of bosonic invertible gapped phases of matter. \n\n\n\n\n9:00–9:30 am \n\n\n  \n\n\nBreakfast break \n\n\n\n\n9:30–11:00 am \n\n\nCMSA \n\n\nSpeed Talks \nBen Gripaios\, University of CambridgeTitle: Locality and smoothness of QFTs \nCarolyn Zhang\, Harvard UniversityTitle: SymTFT approach for (non-)invertible symmetries of mixed states \nRoman Geiko\, UCLATitle: Omega-spectrum of stabilizer invertible phases \n\n\n\n\n11:00–11:15 am \n\n\n  \n\n\nbreak \n\n\n\n\n11:15–12:45 pm \n\n\nCMSA \n\n\nSpeed Talks continued \nEric Roon\, Michigan State UniversityTitle: Finitely Correlated States Driven by Topological Dynamics \nDmitri Pavlov\, Texas Tech UniversityTitle: The classification of two-dimensional extended conformal field theories \nBowen Shi\, University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignTitle: Mathematical Puzzles from the Entanglement Bootstrap: On Immersions and regular homotopySLIDES (pdf) \n\n\n\n\n  \n 
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/mpqft25/
LOCATION:Hybrid
CATEGORIES:Event,Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/media/QFT_2025.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250305T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250305T150000
DTSTAMP:20260421T172602
CREATED:20250123T192715Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250307T154830Z
UID:10003664-1741183200-1741186800@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Machine Learning G2 Geometry
DESCRIPTION:New Technologies in Mathematics Seminar \nSpeaker: Elli Heyes\, Imperial College \nTitle: Machine Learning G2 Geometry \nAbstract: Compact Ricci-flat Calabi-Yau and holonomy G2 manifolds appear in string and M-theory respectively as descriptions of the extra spatial dimensions that arise in the theories. Since 2017 machine-learning techniques have been applied extensively to study Calabi-Yau manifolds but until 2024 no similar work had been carried out on holonomy G2 manifolds. In this talk\, I will firstly show how topological properties of these manifolds can be learnt using neural networks. I will then discuss how one could try to numerically learn metrics on compact holonomy G2 manifolds using machine-learning and why these approximations would be useful in M-theory.
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/newtech_3525/
LOCATION:Hybrid
CATEGORIES:New Technologies in Mathematics Seminar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/media/CMSA-NTM-Seminar-3.5.2025.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250130T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250130T110000
DTSTAMP:20260421T172602
CREATED:20250127T161217Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250127T164602Z
UID:10003675-1738231200-1738234800@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Stochastic Process and Noncommutative Geometry
DESCRIPTION:Mathematical Physics and Algebraic Geometry Seminar \nSpeaker: Zichang Wang (Tsinghua University) \nTitle: Stochastic Process and Noncommutative Geometry \nAbstract: We explain a stochastic approach to topological field theory and present a case study of quantum mechanical model and its relation to noncommutative geometry. For detail reference\, see https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.12360 \n  \n 
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/mathphys_13025/
LOCATION:Hybrid
CATEGORIES:Mathematical Physics and Algebraic Geometry
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/media/CMSA-Mathematical-Physics-and-Algebraic-Geometry-1.30.2025.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240912T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240912T170000
DTSTAMP:20260421T172602
CREATED:20240718T152520Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240919T192322Z
UID:10003400-1726156800-1726160400@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Math and Machine Learning Lecture: Can AI help with hard mathematics?
DESCRIPTION:Math and Machine Learning Lecture \nDate: Thursday\, Sep. 12\, 2024 \nTime: 4:00 – 5:00 pm \nLocation: Science Center & via Zoom Webinar \n  \n \nSpeaker: Geordie Williamson\, University of Sydney \nTitle: Can AI help with hard mathematics? \nAbstract: The last years have seen remarkable advances in what AI can do. It is perhaps surprising that its impact on research in pure mathematics has been modest. Reasoning\, which is so quintessential to the mathematical process\, remains a major challenge for current AI systems. I will survey some exciting recent applications of AI in mathematics research\, trying to highlight what AI can do and the challenges that remain.
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/aimath_91224/
LOCATION:Hybrid
CATEGORIES:Event,MML Lecture
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/media/ML_public-lecture.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240320T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240320T103000
DTSTAMP:20260421T172602
CREATED:20240105T062652Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241212T160245Z
UID:10001116-1710925200-1710930600@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:CMSA/Tsinghua Math-Science Literature Lecture: Cameron Gordon
DESCRIPTION:CMSA/Tsinghua Math-Science Literature Lecture \nProf. Cameron Gordon presented a lecture in the CMSA/Tsinghua Math-Science Literature Lecture Series. \n \nDate: Wednesday\, March 20\, 2024 \nTime: 9:00–10:30 am ET \nLocation: Room G10\, CMSA\, 20 Garden Street\, Cambridge MA and via Zoom Webinar \nTitle: The Unknotting Number of a Knot \nAbstract: One of the oldest and most natural knot invariants is the unknotting number\, which is the minimum number of times a knot must be allowed to pass through itself in order to unknot it. Although this invariant was discussed by Tait almost 150 years ago\, it is still poorly understood. For instance it is not known if it is algorithmically computable\, and indeed there is an 8-crossing knot whose unknotting number is unknown. Nevertheless\, the many developments in knot theory since Tait have led to some understanding of unknotting number\, for example through its connection with 4-dimensional topology. We will give a historical account of this progress\, and discuss some of the questions that are still open. \n  \n\nBeginning in Spring 2020\, the CMSA began hosting a lecture series on literature in the mathematical sciences\, with a focus on significant developments in mathematics that have influenced the discipline\, and the lifetime accomplishments of significant scholars. \n  \nCMSA COVID-19 Policies
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/mathscilit2024_cg/
LOCATION:Hybrid
CATEGORIES:Event,Math Science Literature Lecture Series
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/media/Mathlit_Gordon_letter.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20231201T163000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20231201T173000
DTSTAMP:20260421T172602
CREATED:20230802T170029Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240813T162053Z
UID:10001173-1701448200-1701451800@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:A Plane Defect in the 3d O(N) Model
DESCRIPTION:Quantum Matter Seminar \nSpeaker: Abijith Krishnan (MIT) \nTitle: A Plane Defect in the 3d O(N) Model \nAbstract: It was recently found that the classical 3d O(N) model in the semi-infinite geometry can exhibit an “extraordinary-log” boundary universality class\, where the spin-spin correlation function on the boundary falls off as (log x)^(-q). This universality class exists for a range 2≤N<Nc and Monte-Carlo simulations and conformal bootstrap indicate Nc>3. In this talk\, I’ll extend this result to the 3d O(N) model in an infinite geometry with a plane defect. I’ll explain using the renormalization group (RG) that the extraordinary-log universality class is present for any finite N≥2\, and that a line of defect fixed points is present at N=∞. This line of defect fixed points is lifted to the ordinary\, special (no defect) and extraordinary-log universality classes by 1/N corrections. I’ll show that the line of defect fixed points and the 1/N corrections agree with an a-theorem by Jensen and O’Bannon for 3d CFTs with a boundary. Finally\, I’ll conclude by noting some physical systems where the extraordinary-log universality class can be observed. \n 
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/qm_33123/
LOCATION:Hybrid
CATEGORIES:Quantum Matter
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/media/CMSA-Topological-Seminar-12.01.23.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230208T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230208T163000
DTSTAMP:20260421T172602
CREATED:20230807T170441Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240228T112614Z
UID:10001188-1675870200-1675873800@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Bakry-Emery theory and renormalisation
DESCRIPTION:Probability Seminar \nSpeaker: Roland Bauerschmidt (Cambridge)\n\nTitle: Bakry-Emery theory and renormalisation \nAbstract: I will discuss an approach to log-Sobolev inequalities that\ncombines the Bakry-Emery theory with renormalisation and present several\napplications. These include log-Sobolev inequalities with polynomial\ndependence for critical Ising models on Z^d when d>4 and singular SPDEs\nwith uniform dependence of the log-Sobolev constant on both the\nregularisation and the volume. The talk is based on joint works with\nThierry Bodineau and Benoit Dagallier.
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/probability-2823/
LOCATION:Hybrid
CATEGORIES:Probability Seminar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/media/CMSA-Probability-Seminar-02.08.23.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20221117T093000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20221117T103000
DTSTAMP:20260421T172602
CREATED:20230817T181725Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240118T090857Z
UID:10001249-1668677400-1668681000@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Ringdown and geometry of trapping for black holes
DESCRIPTION:General Relativity Seminar \n\nSpeaker: Semyon Dyatlov (MIT) \nTitle: Ringdown and geometry of trapping for black holes \nAbstract: Quasi-normal modes are complex exponential frequencies appearing in long time expansions of solutions to linear wave equations on black hole backgrounds. They appear in particular during the ringdown phase of a black hole merger when the dynamics is expected to be driven by linear effects. In this talk I give an overview of various results in pure mathematics which relate asymptotic behavior of quasi-normal modes at high frequency to the geometry of the set of trapped null geodesics\, such as the photon sphere in Schwarzschild (-de Sitter). These trapped geodesics have two kinds of behavior: the geodesic flow is hyperbolic in directions normal to the trapped set (a feature stable under perturbations) and it is completely integrable on the trapped set. It turns out that normal hyperbolicity gives information about the rate of decay of quasi-normal modes\, while complete integrability gives rise to a quantization condition.
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/gr_111722/
LOCATION:Hybrid
CATEGORIES:General Relativity Seminar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/media/CMSA-GR-Seminar-11.17.22.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220811T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220811T100000
DTSTAMP:20260421T172602
CREATED:20240215T095012Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240229T085717Z
UID:10002730-1660208400-1660212000@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Exploring and Exploiting the Universality Phenomena in High-Dimensional Estimation and Learning
DESCRIPTION:Interdisciplinary Science Seminar \nSpeaker: Yue M. Lu\, Harvard University \nTitle: Exploring and Exploiting the Universality Phenomena in High-Dimensional Estimation and Learning \nAbstract: Universality is a fascinating high-dimensional phenomenon. It points to the existence of universal laws that govern the macroscopic behavior of wide classes of large and complex systems\, despite their differences in microscopic details. The notion of universality originated in statistical mechanics\, especially in the study of phase transitions. Similar phenomena have been observed in probability theory\, dynamical systems\, random matrix theory\, and number theory.\nIn this talk\, I will present some recent progresses in rigorously understanding and exploiting the universality phenomena in the context of statistical estimation and learning on high-dimensional data. Examples include spectral methods for high-dimensional projection pursuit\, statistical learning based on kernel and random feature models\, and approximate message passing algorithms on highly structured\, strongly correlated\, and even (nearly) deterministic data matrices. Together\, they demonstrate the robustness and wide applicability of the universality phenomena. \nBio: Yue M. Lu attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign\, where he received the M.Sc. degree in mathematics and the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering\, both in 2007.  He is currently Gordon McKay Professor of Electrical Engineering and of Applied Mathematics at Harvard University. He is also fortunate to have held visiting appointments at Duke University in 2016 and at the École Normale Supérieure (ENS) in 2019. His research interests include the mathematical foundations of statistical signal processing and machine learning in high dimensions.
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/iss_81122/
LOCATION:Hybrid
CATEGORIES:Interdisciplinary Science Seminar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220525T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220525T120000
DTSTAMP:20260421T172602
CREATED:20240215T101805Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240215T102153Z
UID:10002740-1653474600-1653480000@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Oblique Lessons from the W Mass Measurement at CDF II
DESCRIPTION:Speaker: Seth Koren (University of Chicago) \nTitle: Baryon Minus Lepton Number BF Theory for the Cosmological Lithium Problem \nAbstract: The cosmological lithium problem—that the observed primordial abundance is lower than theoretical expectations by order one—is perhaps the most statistically significant anomaly of SM+ ΛCDM\, and has resisted decades of attempts by cosmologists\, nuclear physicists\, and astronomers alike to root out systematics. We upgrade a discrete subgroup of the anomaly-free global symmetry of the SM to an infrared gauge symmetry\, and UV complete this at a scale Λ as the familiar U(1)_{B-N_cL} Abelian Higgs theory. The early universe phase transition forms cosmic strings which are charged under the emergent higher-form symmetry of the baryon minus lepton BF theory. These topological defects catalyze interactions which turn N_g baryons into N_g leptons at strong scale rates in an analogue of the Callan-Rubakov effect\, where N_g=3 is the number of SM generations. We write down a model in which baryon minus lepton strings superconduct bosonic global baryon plus lepton number currents and catalyze solely 3p^+ → 3e^+. We suggest that such cosmic strings have disintegrated O(1) of the lithium nuclei formed during Big Bang Nucleosynthesis and estimate the rate\, with our benchmark model finding Λ ~ 10^8 GeV gives the right number density of strings.
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/qm_51222/
LOCATION:Hybrid
CATEGORIES:Quantum Matter
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/media/CMSA-QMMP-Seminar-05.25.22.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220503T093000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220503T103000
DTSTAMP:20260421T172602
CREATED:20240214T072025Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240304T055241Z
UID:10002557-1651570200-1651573800@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:The threshold for stacked triangulations
DESCRIPTION:Abstract: Consider a bootstrap percolation process that starts with a set of `infected’ triangles $Y \subseteq \binom{[n]}3$\, and a new triangle f gets infected if there is a copy of K_4^3 (= the boundary of a tetrahedron) in which f is the only not-yet infected triangle.\nSuppose that every triangle is initially infected independently with probability p=p(n)\, what is the threshold probability for percolation — the event that all triangles get infected? How many new triangles do get infected in the subcritical regime? \nThis notion of percolation can be viewed as a simplification of simple-connectivity. Namely\, a stacked triangulation of a triangle is obtained by repeatedly subdividing an inner face into three faces.\nWe ask: for which $p$ does the random simplicial complex Y_2(n\,p) contain\, for every triple $xyz$\, the faces of a stacked triangulation of $xyz$ whose internal vertices are arbitrarily labeled in [n]. \nWe consider this problem in every dimension d>=2\, and our main result identifies a sharp probability threshold for percolation\, showing it is asymptotically (c_d*n)^(-1/d)\, where c_d is the growth rate of the Fuss–Catalan numbers of order d. \nThe proof hinges on a second moment argument in the supercritical regime\, and on Kalai’s algebraic shifting in the subcritical regime. \nJoint work with Eyal Lubetzky.
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/5-3-2022-cmsa-combinatorics-physics-and-probability-seminar/
LOCATION:Hybrid
CATEGORIES:Combinatorics Physics and Probability
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/media/CMSA-Combinatorics-Physics-and-Probability-Seminar-05.03.22-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220419T093000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220419T103000
DTSTAMP:20260421T172602
CREATED:20240214T070331Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240304T084706Z
UID:10002554-1650360600-1650364200@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Some combinatorics of Wilson loop diagrams
DESCRIPTION:Abstract: Wilson loop diagrams can be used to study amplitudes in N=4 SYM.  I will set them up and talk about some of their combinatorial aspects\, such as how many Wilson loop diagrams give the same positroid and how to combinatorially read off the dimension and the denominators for the integrands. \n**This talk will be hybrid. Talk will be held at CMSA (20 Garden St) Room G10. \nAll non-Harvard affiliated visitors to the CMSA building will need to complete this covid form prior to arrival. \nLINK TO FORM
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/4-19-2022-combinatorics-physics-and-probability-seminar/
LOCATION:Hybrid
CATEGORIES:Combinatorics Physics and Probability
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/media/CMSA-Combinatorics-Physics-and-Probability-Seminar-04.19.22.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20210301T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20210301T110000
DTSTAMP:20260421T172602
CREATED:20240126T083833Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240126T083848Z
UID:10001417-1614592800-1614596400@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Mathematical supergravity and its applications to differential geometry
DESCRIPTION:Speaker: Carlos S. Shahbazi (Hamburg University) \nTitle: Mathematical supergravity and its applications to differential geometry \nAbstract: I will discuss the recent developments in the mathematical theory of supergravity that lay the mathematical foundations of the universal bosonic sector of four-dimensional ungauged supergravity and its Killing spinor equations in a differential-geometric framework.  I will provide the necessary context and background. explaining the results pedagogically from scratch and highlighting several open mathematical problems which arise in the mathematical theory of supergravity\, as well as some of its potential mathematical applications. Work in collaboration with Vicente Cortés and Calin Lazaroiu.
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/3-1-2021-mathematical-physics-seminar/
LOCATION:Hybrid
CATEGORIES:Mathematical Physics Seminar
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR