• Boundary conditions and LSM anomalies of conformal field theories in 1+1 dimensions

    Virtual

    Speaker: Linhao Li (ISSP, U Tokyo) Title: Boundary conditions and LSM anomalies of conformal field theories in 1+1 dimensions Abstract: In this talk, we will study a relationship between conformally invariant boundary conditions and anomalies of conformal field theories (CFTs) in 1+1 dimensions. For a given CFT with a global symmetry, we consider symmetric gapping […]

  • The Generalized Landau Paradigm (a review of generalized symmetries in condensed matter)

    Virtual

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orT7vWJiCeo&list=PL0NRmB0fnLJQAnYwkpt9PN2PBKx4rvdup&index=10&t=15s Abstract: Recent advances in our understanding of symmetry in quantum many-body systems offer the possibility of a generalized Landau paradigm that encompasses all equilibrium phases of matter. This talk will be an elementary review of some of these developments, based on: https://arxiv.org/abs/2204.03045

  • Inflation and light Dark Matter constraints from the Swampland

    Virtual

    Abstract: I will explore the interplay between Swampland conjectures and models of inflation and light Dark Matter. To that end, I will briefly review the weak gravity conjecture (WGC) and the related Festina Lente (FL) bound. These have implications for light darkly and milli-charged particles and can disfavor a large portion of parameter space. The FL bound […]

  • Machine Learning the Gravity Equation for International Trade

    Virtual

    Member Seminar Speaker: Sergiy Verstyuk Title: Machine Learning the Gravity Equation for International Trade Abstract: We will go through modern deep learning methods and existing approaches to their interpretation. Next, I will describe a graph neural network framework. You will also be introduced to an economic analog of gravity. Finally, we will see how these […]

  • Building active nematic and active polar liquids out of biological machines

    Virtual

    Speaker: Guillaume Duclos (Brandeis) Title: Building active nematic and active polar liquids out of biological machines Abstract: Active matter describes out-of-equilibrium materials composed of motile building blocks that convert free energy into mechanical work. The continuous input of energy at the particle scale liberates these systems from the constraints of thermodynamic equilibrium, leading to emergent collective behaviors not found in passive materials. In this talk, I […]

  • Aspects of 4d supersymmetric dynamics and geometry

    Virtual

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6_RbJS8CoM&list=PL0NRmB0fnLJQAnYwkpt9PN2PBKx4rvdup&index=14&t=2s Abstract: We will overview the program of geometrically engineering four dimensional supersymmetric QFTs as compactifications of six dimensional SCFTs. In particular we will discuss how strong coupling phenomena in four dimensions, such as duality and emergence of symmetry, can be better understood in such geometric constructions.

  • Modularity of mirror families of log Calabi–Yau surfaces

    Virtual

    Abstract:   In “Mirror symmetry for log Calabi–Yau surfaces I,” given a smooth log Calabi–Yau surface pair (Y,D), Gross–Hacking–Keel constructed its mirror family as the spectrum of an explicit algebra whose structure coefficients are determined by the enumerative geometry of (Y,D). As a follow-up of the work of Gross–Hacking–Keel, when (Y,D) is positive, we prove the […]

  • CMSA/Tsinghua Math-Science Literature Lecture: Three Introductory Lectures on Game Theory for Mathematicians: Auction Theory

    Virtual

    Eric Maskin (Harvard University) Three Introductory Lectures on Game Theory for Mathematicians April 22, 2022 | 9:30 – 11:00 am ET Title: Auction Theory Abstract: Equivalences among four standard auctions: the high-bid auction (the high bidder wins and pays her bid); the second-bid auction (the high bidder wins and pays the second-highest bid); the Dutch […]

  • Equivariant Verlinde algebra and quantum K-theory of the moduli space of vortices

    Virtual

    Abstract:  In studying complex Chern-Simons theory on a Seifert manifold, Gukov-Pei proposed an equivariant Verlinde formula, a one-parameter deformation of the celebrated Verlinde formula. It computes, among many things, the graded dimension of the space of holomorphic sections of (powers of) a natural determinant line bundle over the Hitchin moduli space. Gukov-Pei conjectured that the equivariant Verlinde numbers are equal to the equivariant quantum K-invariants […]

  • CMSA/Tsinghua Math-Science Literature Lecture: Three Introductory Lectures on Game Theory for Mathematicians: Game Theory Basics and Classical Existence Theorems

    Virtual

    Eric Maskin (Harvard University) Three Introductory Lectures on Game Theory for Mathematicians April 18, 2022 | 9:30 – 11:00 am ET Title: Game Theory Basics and Classical Existence Theorems Abstract: Games in extensive and normal form. Equilibrium existence theorems by Nash, von Neumann, and Zermelo Talk chairs: Scott Kominers, Sergiy Verstyuk SLIDES | VIDEO