BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//CMSA - ECPv6.16.3//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-WR-CALNAME:CMSA
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: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
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20231114T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20231114T120000
DTSTAMP:20260620T165121
CREATED:20240223T052212Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240223T052212Z
UID:10002814-1699959600-1699963200@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Quasi-Local Mass in a Binary Black Hole Merger
DESCRIPTION:General Relativity Seminar \nSpeaker: Daniel Kolb (Max Planck Institute) \nTitle: Quasi-Local Mass in a Binary Black Hole Merger \nAbstract: One of the major open problems in classical general relativity is how one should define the mass of a finite region of space. In this talk\, we will investigate a promising definition proposed by Wang and Yau in 2009. A closed 2-surface bounding the region of interest is embedded isometrically into Minkowski space. The mass is then calculated by comparing the extrinsic geometries. The Wang-Yau mass has many desirable properties\, but it has previously not been calculated for surfaces in dynamical spacetimes. To remedy this\, we will discuss how the Wang-Yau mass can be computed in practice and extend the definition to surfaces important in black hole dynamics: their quasi-local horizons. Finally\, we look at how this mass behaves in a merger of black holes.
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/gr_111423/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:General Relativity Seminar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20231108T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20231108T163000
DTSTAMP:20260620T165121
CREATED:20240222T113928Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240222T113941Z
UID:10002810-1699457400-1699461000@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Fitting ellipsoids to random points
DESCRIPTION:Probability Seminar \nSpeaker: Antoine Maillard (ETH Zürich) \nTitle: Fitting ellipsoids to random points \nAbstract: We consider the problem of exactly fitting an ellipsoid (centered at 0) to n standard Gaussian random vectors in dimension d\, for very large n and d. This problem has connections to questions in statistical learning and theoretical computer science\, and is conjectured to undergo a sharp transition: with high probability\, it has a solution if n < d^2/4\, while it is not satisfiable if n > d^2/4. In this talk we will discuss the origin of this conjecture\, and highlight some recent progress\, in three different directions: \n\nA proof that the problem is feasible for n < d^2 / C\, for some (large) constant C\, significantly improving over previously-known bounds.\nA non-rigorous characterization of the conjecture\, as well as significant generalizations\, using analytical methods of statistical physics.\nA rigorous proof of a satisfiability transition exactly at n = d^2 / 4 in a slightly relaxed version of the problem\, the first rigorous result characterizing the expected phase transition in ellipsoid fitting. The proof is inspired by the non-rigorous characterization discussed above.\n\nThis talk is based on the three manuscripts: arXiv:2307.01181\, arXiv:2310.01169\, arXiv:2310.05787\, which are joint works with A. Bandeira\, Tim Kunisky\, Shahar Mendelson and Elliot Paquette.
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/probability-11823/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Probability Seminar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20231101T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20231101T113000
DTSTAMP:20260620T165121
CREATED:20240222T111415Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240222T111747Z
UID:10002806-1698834600-1698838200@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Unveiling Correlated Topological Insulators through Fermionic Tensor Network States
DESCRIPTION:Topological Quantum Matter Seminar \nSpeaker: Shenghan Jiang\, Kavli Institute for Theoretical Sciences UCAS \nTitle: Unveiling Correlated Topological Insulators through Fermionic Tensor Network States \nAbstract: The study of topological band insulators has revealed fascinating phases characterized by band topology indices\, harboring extraordinary boundary modes protected by anomalous symmetry actions. In strongly correlated systems\, it has been established that topological insulator phases persist as stable phases. However\, due to the inability to express the ground states of such systems as Slater determinants\, the formulation of generic variational wavefunctions for numerical simulations is highly desirable.\nIn this talk\, we tackle this challenge by developing a comprehensive framework with fermionic tensor network states. Starting from simple assumptions\, we write down tensor equations\, construct edge theories and extract quantum anomaly data for topological insulators. By exhaustively exploring all possible sets of equations\, we achieve a systematic classification of topological insulator phases. Imposing the solutions of a given set of equations onto local tensors\, we obtain generic variational wavefunctions for corresponding topological insulator phases. Our methodology provides a crucial first step towards simulating topological insulators in strongly correlated systems. \n 
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/tqms_11123/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Topological Quantum Matter Seminar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/media/CMSA-Topological-Seminar-11.01.23.docx-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20231025T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20231025T163000
DTSTAMP:20260620T165121
CREATED:20240223T055628Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240223T055719Z
UID:10002822-1698247800-1698251400@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Tail estimates for stationary KPZ models
DESCRIPTION:Probability Seminar \nSpeaker: Benjamin Landon (University of Toronto) \nTitle: Tail estimates for stationary KPZ models \nAbstract: The limiting distributions of the KPZ universality class exhibit tail exponents of 3/2 and 3. In this talk we will review recent work studying the upper tail exponent 3/2 in the moderate deviations regime of several KPZ models at finite size\, including the stochastic six vertex model\, the ASEP and a class of non-integrable interacting diffusions. \nJoint work with Christian Noack and Phil Sosoe. \n 
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/probability-102523/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Probability Seminar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/media/CMSA-Probability-Seminar-10.25.23.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230920T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230920T150000
DTSTAMP:20260620T165121
CREATED:20240227T083355Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240227T083355Z
UID:10002873-1695218400-1695222000@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:The TinyStories Dataset: How Small Can Language Models Be And Still Speak Coherent
DESCRIPTION:New Technologies in Mathematics Seminar \nSpeaker: Ronen Eldan\, Microsoft Research \nTitle: The TinyStories Dataset: How Small Can Language Models Be And Still Speak Coherent \nAbstract: While generative language models exhibit powerful capabilities at large scale\, when either the model or the number of training steps is too small\, they struggle to produce coherent and fluent text: Existing models whose size is below a few billion parameters often do not generate coherent text beyond a few sentences. Hypothesizing that one of the main reasons for the strong reliance on size is the vast breadth and abundance of patterns in the datasets used to train those models\, this motivates the following question: Can we design a dataset that preserves the essential elements of natural language\, such as grammar\, vocabulary\, facts\, and reasoning\, but that is much smaller and more refined in terms of its breadth and diversity? \nIn this talk\, we introduce TinyStories\, a synthetic dataset of short stories that only contain words that 3 to 4-year-olds typically understand\, generated by GPT-3.5/4. We show that TinyStories can be used to train and analyze language models that are much smaller than the state-of-the-art models (below 10 million parameters)\, or have much simpler architectures (with only one transformer block)\, yet still produce fluent and consistent stories with several paragraphs that are diverse and have almost perfect grammar\, and demonstrate certain reasoning capabilities. We also show that the trained models are substantially more interpretable than larger ones\, as we can visualize and analyze the attention and activation patterns of the models\, and show how they relate to the generation process and the story content. We hope that TinyStories can facilitate the development\, analysis and research of language models\, especially for low-resource or specialized domains\, and shed light on the emergence of language capabilities in LMs. \n 
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/nt-92023/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:New Technologies in Mathematics Seminar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/media/CMSA-NTM-Seminar-09.20.2023.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230824T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230824T113000
DTSTAMP:20260620T165121
CREATED:20230904T055455Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240227T085359Z
UID:10001126-1692871200-1692876600@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Two of my favorite numbers: 8 and 24
DESCRIPTION:Quantum Matter Seminar \nSpeaker: John Baez (University of California\, Riverside) \nTitle: Two of my favorite numbers: 8 and 24 \nAbstract: The numbers 8 and 24 play special roles in mathematics. The number 8 is special because of Bott periodicity\, the octonions and the E8 lattice\, while 24 is special for many reasons\, including the binary tetrahedral group\, the 3rd stable homotopy group of spheres\, and the Leech lattice. The number 8 does for superstring theory what the number 24 does for bosonic string theory. In this talk\, which is intended to be entertaining\, I will overview these matters and also some connections between the numbers 8 and 24.
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/qm_82423/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Quantum Matter
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/media/CMSA-QMMP-08.24.23.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230630T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230630T113000
DTSTAMP:20260620T165121
CREATED:20230802T171855Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240110T074010Z
UID:10001183-1688119200-1688124600@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Monopoles\, Scattering\, and Generalized Symmetries
DESCRIPTION:Quantum Matter Seminar \nSpeaker: Marieke Van Beest (SCGP) \nTitle: Monopoles\, Scattering\, and Generalized Symmetries \nAbstract: In this talk\, we will discuss the problem of electrically charged\, massless fermions scattering off magnetic monopoles. The interpretation of the outgoing states has long been a puzzle\, as they can carry fractional quantum numbers. We argue that such outgoing particles live in the twisted sector of a topological co-dimension 1 surface\, which ends topologically on the monopole. This symmetry defect is often non-invertible\, and as such the outgoing radiation not only carries unconventional flavor quantum numbers\, but is often trailed by a topological field theory\, which is a new prediction.
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/qm_63023/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Quantum Matter
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/media/CMSA-QMMP-06.30.23.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230626T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230626T113000
DTSTAMP:20260620T165121
CREATED:20230802T171648Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240110T073717Z
UID:10001182-1687773600-1687779000@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Chiral fermionic CFTs of central charge ≤ 16
DESCRIPTION:Quantum Matter Seminar \nTitle: Chiral fermionic CFTs of central charge ≤ 16 \nAbstract: We classified all chiral fermionic CFTs of central charge ≤ 16 using Kac’s theorem and bosonization/fermionization. This talk will discuss the derivation of this result\, its application to the classification of non-supersymmetric heterotic string theories\, and along the way we’ll address some oft-overlooked subtleties of bosonization from the point of view of anomalies and topological phases.
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/qm_62623/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Quantum Matter
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/media/CMSA-QMMP-06.26.23.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230613T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230613T120000
DTSTAMP:20260620T165121
CREATED:20230802T171505Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240228T070233Z
UID:10001181-1686650400-1686657600@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Small Bosonic CFTs\, Chiral Fermionization\, and Symmetry/Subalgebra Duality
DESCRIPTION:Quantum Matter Seminar \nSpeaker: Brandon C. Rayhaun (C. N. Yang ITP\, Stony Brook University) \nTitle: Small Bosonic CFTs\, Chiral Fermionization\, and Symmetry/Subalgebra Duality \nAbstract: Conformal field theories in (1+1)D are key actors in many dramas of physics and mathematics. Their classification has therefore been an important and long-standing problem. In this talk\, I will explain the main ideas behind the classification of (most) “small” bosonic CFTs. Here\, I use the adjective “small” informally to refer to theories with low central charge (less than 24) and few primary operators (less than 5). Time and attention permitting\, I will highlight two applications of this result. First\, I will describe how it can be used in tandem with bosonization and fermionization techniques to establish the classification of chiral fermionic CFTs with central charge less than 23. Second\, I will showcase how it can be used to bootstrap generalized global symmetries using the concept of “symmetry/subalgebra duality.” \nTalk based on arXiv:2208.05486 [hep-th] (joint work with Sunil Mukhi) and arXiv:2303.16921 [hep-th]. \n \n 
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/qm_61323/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Quantum Matter
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/media/CMSA-QMMP-06.13.23.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230609T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230609T113000
DTSTAMP:20260620T165121
CREATED:20230802T171314Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240215T111159Z
UID:10001180-1686304800-1686310200@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Classification of Self-Dual Vertex Operator Superalgebras of Central Charge at Most 24
DESCRIPTION:Quantum Matter Seminar \nSpeakers: Gerald Höhn (Kansas State University) & Sven Möller (University of Hamburg) \nTitle: Classification of Self-Dual Vertex Operator Superalgebras of Central Charge at Most 24 \nAbstract: We discuss the classfication of self-dual vertex operator superalgebras (SVOAs) of central charge 24\, or in physics parlance the purely chiral 2-dimensional fermionic conformal field theories with just one primary field. \nThere are exactly 969 such SVOAs under suitable regularity assumptions and the assumption that the shorter moonshine module VB^# is the unique self-dual SVOA of central charge 23.5 whose weight-1/2 and weight-1 spaces vanish. \nWe construct and classify the self-dual SVOAs by determining the 2-neighbourhood graph of the self-dual (purely bosonic) VOAs of central charge 24 and also by realising them as simple-current extensions of a dual pair containing a certain maximal lattice VOA. We show that all SVOAs besides VB^# x F and potential fake copies thereof stem from elements of the Conway group Co_0\, the automorphism group of the Leech lattice. \nBy splitting off free fermions F\, if possible\, we obtain the classification for all central charges less than or equal to 24.\nReference: G. Höhn\, S. Möller\, arXiv:2303.17190.
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/qm_6923/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Quantum Matter
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/media/CMSA-QMMP-06.09.23.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230512T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230512T113000
DTSTAMP:20260620T165121
CREATED:20230802T171128Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240215T111609Z
UID:10001179-1683885600-1683891000@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Anomalies of (1+1)D categorical symmetries
DESCRIPTION:Quantum Matter Seminar \nSpeaker: Carolyn Zhang (U Chicago) \nTitle: Anomalies of (1+1)D categorical symmetries \nAbstract: We present a general approach for detecting when a fusion category symmetry is anomalous\, based on the existence of a special kind of Lagrangian algebra of the corresponding Drinfeld center. The Drinfeld center of a fusion category $A$ describes a $(2+1)D$ topological order whose gapped boundaries enumerate all $(1+1)D$ gapped phases with the fusion category symmetry\, which may be spontaneously broken. There always exists a gapped boundary\, given by the \emph{electric} Lagrangian algebra\, that describes a phase with $A$ fully spontaneously broken. The symmetry defects of this boundary can be identified with the objects in $A$. We observe that if there exists a different gapped boundary\, given by a \emph{magnetic} Lagrangian algebra\, then there exists a gapped phase where $A$ is not spontaneously broken at all\, which means that $A$ is not anomalous. In certain cases\, we show that requiring the existence of such a magnetic Lagrangian algebra leads to highly computable obstructions to $A$ being anomaly-free. As an application\, we consider the Drinfeld centers of $\mathbb{Z}_N\times\mathbb{Z}_N$ Tambara-Yamagami fusion categories and recover known results from the study of fiber functors.
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/qm_51223/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Quantum Matter
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/media/CMSA-QMMP-05.12.23.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230511T133000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230511T143000
DTSTAMP:20260620T165121
CREATED:20230818T045112Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240215T111322Z
UID:10001264-1683811800-1683815400@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Positivity of Static quasi-local Mass in general relativity
DESCRIPTION:General Relativity Seminar \nSpeaker: Aghil Alaee\, Clark University \nTitle: Positivity of Static quasi-local Mass in general relativity \nAbstract: In this talk\, we review results on the PMT of quasi-local masses and prove the positivity of static quasi-local masses with respect to the AdS and AdS Schwarzschild spacetimes.
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/gr_51123/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:General Relativity Seminar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/media/CMSA-GR-Seminar-05.11.23.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230510T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230510T150000
DTSTAMP:20260620T165121
CREATED:20230809T105349Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240228T104953Z
UID:10001225-1683727200-1683730800@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Modern Hopfield Networks for Novel Transformer Architectures
DESCRIPTION:New Technologies in Mathematics Seminar \nSpeaker: Dmitry Krotov\, IBM Research – Cambridge \nTitle: Modern Hopfield Networks for Novel Transformer Architectures \nAbstract: Modern Hopfield Networks or Dense Associative Memories are recurrent neural networks with fixed point attractor states that are described by an energy function. In contrast to conventional Hopfield Networks\, which were popular in the 1980s\, their modern versions have a very large memory storage capacity\, which makes them appealing tools for many problems in machine learning and cognitive and neurosciences. In this talk\, I will introduce an intuition and a mathematical formulation of this class of models and will give examples of problems in AI that can be tackled using these new ideas. Particularly\, I will introduce an architecture called Energy Transformer\, which replaces the conventional attention mechanism with a recurrent Dense Associative Memory model. I will explain the theoretical principles behind this architectural choice and show promising empirical results on challenging computer vision and graph network tasks.
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/nt-51023/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:New Technologies in Mathematics Seminar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/media/CMSA-NTM-Seminar-05.10.23.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230428T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230428T113000
DTSTAMP:20260620T165121
CREATED:20230802T170750Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240215T115157Z
UID:10001177-1682676000-1682681400@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Fracton Self-Statistics
DESCRIPTION:Quantum Matter Seminar \nTitle: Fracton Self-Statistics \nSpeaker: Hao Song (ITP-CAS) \nAbstract: Fracton order describes novel quantum phases of matter that host quasiparticles with restricted mobility\, and thus lies beyond the existing paradigm of topological order. In particular\, excitations that cannot move without creating other excitations are called fractons. Here we address a fundamental open question — can the notion of self-exchange statistics be naturally defined for fractons\, given their complete immobility as isolated excitations? Surprisingly\, we demonstrate how fractons can be exchanged\, and show their self-statistics is a key part of the characterization of fracton orders. We derive general constraints satisfied by the fracton self-statistics in a large class of abelian fracton orders. Finally\, we show the existence of semionic or fermionic fracton self-statistics in some twisted variants of the checkerboard model and Haah’s code\, establishing that these models are in distinct quantum phases as compared to their untwisted cousins. \nReferences: H Song\, N Tantivasadakarn\, W Shirley\, M Hermele\, arXiv:2304.00028.
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/qm_42823/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Quantum Matter
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/media/CMSA-QMMP-04.28.23.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230427T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230427T113000
DTSTAMP:20260620T165121
CREATED:20230818T043803Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240119T052918Z
UID:10001262-1682591400-1682595000@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:The localized seed-to-solution method for the Einstein constraints
DESCRIPTION:General Relativity Seminar \nSpeaker: Philippe G. LeFloch\, Sorbonne University and CNRS \nTitle: The localized seed-to-solution method for the Einstein constraints \nAbstract: I will discuss advances on asymptotically Euclidian initial data sets and the variational method introduced by J. Corvino and R. Schoen. This talk is based on joint papers with The-Cang Nguyen (Montpellier) and Bruno Le Floch (Sorbonne Univ. and CNRS). In the vicinity of any given reference data set\, we define a “localized seed-to-solution” map\, which allows us to parametrize the initial data sets satisfying the Einstein constraints (possibly with matter fields). The parametrization is defined over classes of data sets understood modulo the image of the dual linearized constraints. Our main contribution concerns the sharp behavior of solutions at infinity\, which we can arbitrarily localize in asymptotic cones in the sense of A. Carlotto and R. Schoen. Most importantly\, as we prove it\, the solutions enjoy sharp decay estimates at the harmonic and super-harmonic levels. In the course of this analysis\, we discover the notion of ‘asymptotic modulators’\, as we call them\, or “correctors” to the standard ADM invariants.
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/gr_42723/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:General Relativity Seminar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/media/CMSA-GR-Seminar-04.27.23.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230426T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230426T150000
DTSTAMP:20260620T165121
CREATED:20230809T103350Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240209T151145Z
UID:10001224-1682517600-1682521200@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Toolformer: Language Models Can Teach Themselves to Use Tools
DESCRIPTION:New Technologies in Mathematics Seminar \nSpeaker: Timo Schick\, Meta AI \nTitle: Toolformer: Language Models Can Teach Themselves to Use Tools \nAbstract: Language models exhibit remarkable abilities to solve new tasks from just a few examples or textual instructions\, especially at scale. They also\, paradoxically\, struggle with basic functionality\, such as arithmetic or factual lookup\, where much simpler and smaller models excel. In this talk\, we show how these limitations can be overcome by letting language models teach themselves to use external tools via simple APIs. We discuss Toolformer\, a model trained to independently decide which APIs to call\, when to call them\, what arguments to pass\, and how to best incorporate the results into future token prediction. Through this\, it achieves substantially improved zero-shot performance across a variety of downstream tasks without sacrificing its core language modeling abilities. \n 
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/nt-42623/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:New Technologies in Mathematics Seminar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/media/CMSA-NTM-Seminar-04.26.23.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230403T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230403T110000
DTSTAMP:20260620T165121
CREATED:20230825T085504Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240228T081746Z
UID:10001303-1680516000-1680519600@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Kähler-Einstein metrics on families of Fano varieties
DESCRIPTION:Algebraic Geometry in String Theory Seminar \nSpeaker: Chung-Ming Pan\, Institut de Mathématiques de Toulouse \nTitle: Kähler-Einstein metrics on families of Fano varieties \nAbstract: This talk aims to introduce a pluripotential approach to study uniform a priori estimates of Kähler-Einstein (KE) metrics on families of Fano varieties. I will first recall basic tools in the pluripotential theory and the variational approach to complex Monge-Ampère equations. I will then define a notion of convergence of quasi-plurisubharmonic functions in families of normal varieties and extend several classical properties under this context. Last\, I will explain how these elements help to obtain a purely analytic proof of the openness of existing singular KE metrics and a uniform $L^\infty$ estimate of KE potentials. This is joint work with Antonio Trusiani.
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/agst-4323/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Algebraic Geometry in String Theory Seminar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/media/CMSA-AGST-Seminar-04.03.2023.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230322T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230322T163000
DTSTAMP:20260620T165121
CREATED:20230807T172858Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240215T105007Z
UID:10001192-1679499000-1679502600@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Some rigorous results on the Lévy spin glass model
DESCRIPTION:Probability Seminar \nSpeaker: Wei-Kuo Chen (Minnesota)\n\nTitle: Some rigorous results on the Lévy spin glass model \nAbstract: The Lévy spin glass model\, proposed by Cizeau-Bouchaud\, is a mean-field model defined on a fully connected graph\, where the spin interactions are formulated through a power-law distribution. This model is well-motivated from the study of the experimental metallic spin glasses. It is also expected to bridge between some mean-field and diluted models. In this talk\, we will discuss some recent progress on the Lévy model including its high temperature behavior and the existence and variational expression for the limiting free energy. Based on a joint work with Heejune Kim and Arnab Sen.
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/probability-32223/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Probability Seminar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/media/CMSA-Probability-Seminar-03.22.23.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230316T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230316T140000
DTSTAMP:20260620T165121
CREATED:20230824T181630Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240215T111640Z
UID:10001504-1678971600-1678975200@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Active chemical reactions in phase-separating systems
DESCRIPTION:Active Matter Seminar \n  \n\n\nSpeaker:  Jonathan Bauermann\, Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems \n\n\n\nTitle: Active chemical reactions in phase-separating systems \nAbstract: Motivated by the existence of membrane-less compartments in the chemically active environment of living cells\, I will discuss the dynamics of droplets in the presence of active chemical reactions. Therefore\, I will first introduce the underlying interplay between phase separation and active reactions\, which can alter the droplet dynamics compared to equilibrium systems. A key feature of such systems is the emergence of concentration gradients even at steady states. In the second part of this talk\, I will discuss how these gradients can trigger instabilities in the core of chemically active droplets\, giving rise to a new non-equilibrium steady state of liquid spherical shells. Finally\, I will present experimental and theoretical results discussing the existence and energetic cost of this non-equilibrium steady state in a coacervate system.
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/am-31623/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Active Matter Seminar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230310T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230310T110000
DTSTAMP:20260620T165121
CREATED:20230802T165201Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240110T054801Z
UID:10001170-1678442400-1678446000@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Quantum entropy thermalization
DESCRIPTION:Quantum Matter Seminar \nSpeaker: Yichen Huang (Harvard) \nTitle: Quantum entropy thermalization \nAbstract: In an isolated quantum many-body system undergoing unitary evolution\, the entropy of a subsystem (smaller than half the system size) thermalizes if at long times\, it is to leading order equal to the thermodynamic entropy of the subsystem at the same energy. We prove entropy thermalization for a nearly integrable Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev model initialized in a pure product state. The model is obtained by adding random all-to-all 4-body interactions as a perturbation to a random free-fermion model. In this model\, there is a regime of “thermalization without eigenstate thermalization.” Thus\, the eigenstate thermalization hypothesis is not a necessary condition for thermalization. \nReferences: arXiv:2302.10165\, 2209.09826; Joint work with Aram W. Harrow \n 
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/qm_31023/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Quantum Matter
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/media/CMSA-QMMP-03.10.23.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230309T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230309T120000
DTSTAMP:20260620T165121
CREATED:20230807T171904Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240215T105139Z
UID:10001191-1678359600-1678363200@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:On the free energy of spin glasses with multiple types
DESCRIPTION:Probability Seminar \n\nSpeaker: Jean-Christophe Mourrat (ENS Lyon) \nTitle: On the free energy of spin glasses with multiple types \nAbstract: In the simplest spin-glass model\, due to Sherrington and Kirkpatrick\, the energy function involves interaction terms between all pairs of spins. A bipartite version of this model can be obtained by splitting the spins into two groups\, which we can visualize as forming two layers\, and by keeping only interaction terms that go from one to the other layer. For this and other models that incorporate a finite number of types of spins\, the asymptotic behavior of the free energy remains mysterious (at least from the mathematical point of view). I will present the difficulties arising there\, and some partial progress.
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/probability-3923/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Probability Seminar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/media/CMSA-Probability-Seminar-03.09.23.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230303T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230303T113000
DTSTAMP:20260620T165121
CREATED:20230802T164922Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240819T145549Z
UID:10001169-1677837600-1677843000@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Strongly coupled ultraviolet fixed point and symmetric mass generation in four dimensions with 8 Kähler-Dirac fermions
DESCRIPTION:Quantum Matter Seminar \nSpeaker: Anna Hasenfratz (University of Colorado) \nTitle: Strongly coupled ultraviolet fixed point and symmetric mass generation in four dimensions with 8 Kähler-Dirac fermions\n\nAbstract: 4-dimensional gauge-fermion systems exhibit a quantum phase transition from a confining\, chirally broken phase to a conformal phase as the number of fermions is increased. While the existence of the conformal phase is well established\, very little is known about the nature of the phase transition or the strong coupling phase.\n\nLattice QCD methods can predict the RG $\beta$ function\, but the calculations are often limited by non-physical bulk phase transition that prevent exploring the strong coupling region of the phase diagram. Even the critical flavor number is controversial\, estimates vary between $N_f=8$ and 14 for fundamental fermions.\n\nUsing an improved lattice actions that include heavy Pauli-Villars (PV) type bosons to reduce ultraviolet fluctuations\, I was able to simulate an SU(3) system with 8 fundamental flavors at much stronger renormalized coupling than previously possibly. The numerical results indicate a smooth phase transition from weak coupling to a strongly coupled phase.\nI investigate the critical behavior of the transition using finite size scaling. The result of the scaling analysis is not consistent with a first order phase transition\, but it is well described by   Berezinsky-Kosterlitz-Thouless or BKT scaling. BKT scaling could imply that the 8-flavor system is the opening of the conformal window\, an exciting possibility that warrants further investigations.\n\nThe strongly coupled phase appear to be chirally symmetric but gapped\, suggesting symmetric mass generation (SMG). This could be the consequence of the lattice fermions used in this study. Staggered fermions in the massless limit are known to be anomaly free\, allowing an SMG phase in the continuum limit.\n  \n\n\nReferences:\nPhys.Rev.D 106 (2022) 1\, 014513 • e-Print: 2204.04801\nPhys.Rev.D 104 (2021) 7\, 074509 • e-Print: 2109.02790\nFor anomalies and staggered fermion\, see\nPhys.Rev.D 104 (2021) 9\, 094504 • e-Print: 2101.01026\n\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jtNsFGszjE&list=PL0NRmB0fnLJQAnYwkpt9PN2PBKx4rvdup&index=14
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/qm_3323/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Quantum Matter
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/media/CMSA-QMMP-03.03.23.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230223T093000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230223T103000
DTSTAMP:20260620T165121
CREATED:20230817T184650Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240118T093227Z
UID:10001255-1677144600-1677148200@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Formation of trapped surfaces in the Einstein-Yang-Mills system
DESCRIPTION:General Relativity Seminar \nSpeaker: Nikolaos Athanasiou (University of Crete\, Greece) \nTitle: Formation of trapped surfaces in the Einstein-Yang-Mills system \nAbstract: The purpose of this talk is to give an overview of a semi-global existence result and a trapped surface formation results in the context of the Einstein-Yang-Mills system. Adopting a “signature for decay rates” approach first introduced by An\, we develop a novel gauge (and scale) invariant hierarchy of non-linear estimates for the Yang-Mills curvature which\, together with the estimates for the gravitational degrees of freedom\, yield the desired semi-global existence result. Once semi-global existence has been established\, we will explain how the formation of a trapped surface follows from a standard ODE argument. This is joint work with Puskar Mondal and Shing-Tung Yau.
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/gr_22323/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:General Relativity Seminar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/media/CMSA-GR-Seminar-02.23.23.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230222T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230222T163000
DTSTAMP:20260620T165121
CREATED:20230807T171541Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240111T065432Z
UID:10001190-1677079800-1677083400@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Thresholds for edge colorings
DESCRIPTION:Probability Seminar \nSpeaker: Vishesh Jain (University of Illinois Chicago)\n\nTitle: Thresholds for edge colorings\n\nAbstract: We show that if each edge of the complete bipartite graph K_{n\,n} is given a random list of C(\log n) colors from [n]\, then with high probability\, there is a proper edge coloring where the color of each edge comes from the corresponding list. We also prove analogous results for Latin squares and Steiner triple systems. This resolves several related conjectures of Johansson\, Luria-Simkin\, Casselgren-Häggkvist\, Simkin\, and Kang-Kelly-Kühn-Methuku-Osthus. I will discuss some of the main ingredients which go into the proof: the Kahn-Kalai conjecture\, absorption\, and the Lovasz Local Lemma distribution. Based on joint work with Huy Tuan Pham.
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/probability-22223/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Probability Seminar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230217T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230217T113000
DTSTAMP:20260620T165121
CREATED:20230802T164725Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240813T161921Z
UID:10001168-1676628000-1676633400@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Quantum Spin Lakes: NISQ-Era Spin Liquids from Non-Equilibrium Dynamics
DESCRIPTION:Quantum Matter Seminar \nSpeaker: Rahul Sahay (Harvard) \nTitle: Quantum Spin Lakes: NISQ-Era Spin Liquids from Non-Equilibrium Dynamics \nAbstract: While many-body quantum systems can in principle host exotic quantum spin liquid (QSL) states\, realizing them as ground states in experiments can be prohibitively difficult. In this talk\, we show how non-equilibrium dynamics can provide a streamlined route toward creating QSLs. In particular\, we show how a simple Hamiltonian parameter sweep can dynamically project out condensed anyons from a family of initial product states (e.g. dynamically “un-Higgs”)\, yielding a QSL-like state. We christen such states “quantum spin lakes” which\, while not thermodynamically large QSLs\, enable their study in NISQ-era quantum simulators. Indeed\, we show that this mechanism sheds light on recent experimental and numerical observations of the dynamical state preparation of the ruby lattice spin liquid in Rydberg atom arrays. Time permitting\, we will discuss how our theory motivates a tree tensor network-based numerical tool—reliant on our theory—that quantitatively reproduces the experimental data two orders of magnitude faster than conventional brute-force simulation methods. Finally\, we will highlight that even spin liquid states that are unstable in equilibrium—namely\, 2 + 1D U(1) spin liquid states—can be robustly prepared by non-equilibrium dynamics. \n 
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/qm_21723/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Quantum Matter
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/media/CMSA-QMMP-02.17.23.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230210T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230210T113000
DTSTAMP:20260620T165121
CREATED:20230802T164450Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240216T083704Z
UID:10001167-1676025000-1676028600@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Non-invertible Symmetry Enforced Gaplessness
DESCRIPTION:Quantum Matter Seminar \nSpeaker: Ho Tat Lam (MIT) \nTitle: Non-invertible Symmetry Enforced Gaplessness \nAbstract: Quantum systems in 3+1-dimensions that are invariant under gauging a one-form symmetry enjoy novel non-invertible duality symmetries encoded by topological defects. These symmetries are renormalization group invariants which constrain infrared dynamics. We show that such non-invertible symmetries often forbid a symmetry-preserving vacuum state with a gapped spectrum\, leaving only two possibilities for the infrared dynamics: a gapless state or spontaneous breaking of the non-invertible symmetries. These non-invertible symmetries are realized in lattice gauge theories\, which serve to illustrate our results. \n 
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/qm_21023/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Quantum Matter
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/media/CMSA-QMMP-02.10.23.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230203T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230203T113000
DTSTAMP:20260620T165121
CREATED:20230802T164259Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240215T100905Z
UID:10001166-1675420200-1675423800@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Fracton orders in hyperbolic space and its excitations with fractal mobility
DESCRIPTION:Quantum Matter Seminar \nSpeaker: Han Yan (Rice U) \nTitle: Fracton orders in hyperbolic space and its excitations with fractal mobility \nAbstract: Unlike ordinary topological quantum phases\, fracton orders are intimately dependent on the underlying lattice geometry. In this work\, we study a generalization of the X-cube model\, on lattices embedded in a stack of hyperbolic planes. We demonstrate that for certain hyperbolic lattice tesselations\, this model hosts a new kind of subdimensional particle\, treeons\, which can only move on a fractal-shaped subset of the lattice. Such an excitation only appears on hyperbolic geometries; on flat spaces\, treeons become either a lineon or a planeon. Additionally\, we find intriguingly that for certain hyperbolic tessellations\, a fracton can be created by a membrane operator (as in the X-cube model) or by a fractal-shaped operator within the hyperbolic plane. Our work shows that there are still plenty of exotic behaviors from fracton order to be explored\, especially when the embedding geometry is curved. \nReference: H. Yan\, K. Slage\, A. H. Nevidomskyy\, arXiv:2211.15829 \n 
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/qm_2323/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Quantum Matter
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/media/CMSA-QMMP-02.03.23.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230202T093000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230202T103000
DTSTAMP:20260620T165121
CREATED:20230817T182911Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240118T092235Z
UID:10001252-1675330200-1675333800@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Near extremal de Sitter black holes and JT gravity
DESCRIPTION:General Relativity Seminar \nSpeaker: Chiara Toldo (Harvard) \nTitle: Near extremal de Sitter black holes and JT gravity \nAbstract: In this talk I will explore the thermodynamic response near extremality of charged black holes in four-dimensional Einstein-Maxwell theory with a positive cosmological constant. The latter exhibit three different extremal limits\, dubbed cold\, Nariai and ultracold configurations\, with different near-horizon geometries. For each of these three cases I will analyze small deformations away from extremality\, and construct the effective two-dimensional theory\, obtained by dimensional reduction\, that captures these features. The ultracold case in particular shows an interesting interplay between the entropy variation and charge variation\, realizing a different symmetry breaking with respect to the other two near-extremal limits.
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/gr_2223/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:General Relativity Seminar
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/media/CMSA-GR-Seminar-02.03.23.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230130T093000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230130T103000
DTSTAMP:20260620T165121
CREATED:20230802T163915Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240215T101107Z
UID:10001165-1675071000-1675074600@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Group Invariant States as Many-Body Scars
DESCRIPTION:Quantum Matter Seminar \nTitle: Group Invariant States as Many-Body Scars \nSpeaker: Igor R. Klebanov (Princeton University) \nAbstract: Quantum many-body scars have been an active area of research in Condensed Matter Physics for several years. In some many-body systems\, the Hilbert space breaks up into a large ergodic sector and a much smaller scar subspace. It has been suggested [K. Pakrouski et al.\, Phys. Rev. Lett. 125 (2020) 230602] that the two sectors may be distinguished by their transformation properties under a large group whose rank grows with the system size (this group is not a symmetry of the Hamiltonian). The scars are invariant under this group\, while all other states are not. We begin by reviewing some many-body systems where group singlet states have special properties: the matrix quantum mechanics and fermionic tensor models. We continue on to appropriately deformed versions of the SU(2) Hubbard model and show that the scar subsector is invariant under a large group\, which acts on the lattice sites. More generally\, we apply this idea to lattice systems with N sites that contain M Majorana fermions per site. The Hilbert space may be decomposed under the action of the SO(N)xSO(M) group\, and the scars are the SO(N) singlets. For any even M\, there are two families of scars. One of them\, which we call the eta-states\, is symmetric under the group O(N) that includes a reflection. The other\, the zeta-states\, has the SO(N) invariance only. For M=4\, where our construction reduces to a deformed SU(2) Hubbard chain with local interactions\, the former family are the N+1 eta-pairing states\, while the latter are the N+1 states of maximum spin. For M=6\, we exhibit explicit formulae for the scar states and calculate the bipartite entanglement entropy analytically. For large N\, it grows logarithmically with the region size. In general\, the energies of the scars within each family are not equidistant. For M>6 we also find that\, with local Hamiltonians\, the scars typically have certain degeneracies.  The latter part of the talk is based on the recent paper “Majorana Scars as Group Singlets” by Zimo Sun\, Fedor Popov\, Igor Klebanov and Kiryl Pakrouski\, arXiv:2212.11914 \n 
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/qm_13023/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:Quantum Matter
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/media/CMSA-QMMP-1.30.23-1.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230126T093000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230126T103000
DTSTAMP:20260620T165121
CREATED:20230817T182501Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240215T102816Z
UID:10001251-1674725400-1674729000@cmsa.fas.harvard.edu
SUMMARY:Testing spacetime geometry with images of supermassive compact objects: Current status and the future
DESCRIPTION:General Relativity Seminar \nSpeaker: Prashant Kocherlakota (BHI) \nTitle: Testing spacetime geometry with images of supermassive compact objects: Current status and the future \nAbstract: Astrophysical black holes (BHs) are expected to be described by the Kerr solution of the Einstein equations. Several frameworks have recently been developed to parametrically deform the Kerr metric in significantly different ways\, to enable formulations of tests of the no-hair theorems. Testing the viability status of alternative models – such as non-Kerr BHs from general relativity\, BHs from alternative theories\, wormholes\, and other exotic objects – as descriptors of astrophysical objects has been of longstanding interest. The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) recently imaged Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*)\, the supermassive compact object at the center of the Galaxy\, making such tests possible. In such tests\, the shadow critical curve (or simply shadow boundary)\, defined on the observer’s image plane\, has gained prominence as the observable of interest. We will discuss how the EHT is able to extract information regarding the shadow of Sgr A* and the status of associated tests of the spacetime geometry in the strong-field regime. Future imaging measurements expect to detect the so-called photon ring\, a strong-gravitational lensing feature that appears in the close vicinity of the critical curve\, which houses higher-order images of the emission source. Time permitting\, we will also discuss how these can be used to set up more stringent tests of the spacetime metric and gravity in the future. \n\n 
URL:https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/gr_12623/
LOCATION:Virtual
CATEGORIES:General Relativity Seminar
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR