In rational conformal field theory, the sewing and factorization properties are probably the most important properties that conformal blocks satisfy. For special examples such as Weiss-Zumino-Witten models and minimal models, these two properties were proved decades ago (assuming the genus is ≤1 for the sewing theorem). But for general (strongly) rational vertex operator algebras (VOAs), their proofs were finished only very recently. In this talk, I will first motivate the definition of conformal blocks and VOAs using Segal's picture of CFT. I will then explain the importance of Sewing and Factorization Theorem in the construction of full rational conformal field theory.

The binormal flow is a model for the dynamics of a vortex filament in a 3-D inviscid incompressible fluid. This flow is also related to the classical continuous Heisenberg model in ferromagnetism and to the 1-D cubic Schrödinger equation. In this lecture I will first talk about the state of the art of the binormal flow conjecture, as well as about mathematical methods and results for the binormal flow. Then I will introduce a class of solutions at the critical level of regularity that generate singularities in finite time and describe some of their properties. These results are joint work with Luis Vega.

The propagation of high-frequency electromagnetic waves can be analyzed using the geometrical optics approximation. In the case of large but finite frequencies, the geometrical optics approximation is no longer accurate, and polarization-dependent corrections at first order in wavelength modify the propagation of light in an inhomogenous medium via a spin-orbit coupling mechanism. This effect, known as the spin Hall effect of light, has been experimentally observed. In this talk I will discuss recent work which generalizes the spin Hall effect to the propagation of light and gravitational waves in inhomogenous spacetimes. This is based on joint work with Marius Oancea and Jeremie Joudioux.