Forthcoming events in this series


Thu, 25 May 2017
17:30
L6

Differentiability of functions definable in C-minimal valued fields

Francoise Delon
(Institut de Mathématiques de Jussieu (Paris 7))
Abstract

We consider the differentiability of definable functions in tame expansions
of algebraically closed valued fields.
As the Frobenius inverse shows such a function may be nowhere
differentiable.
We prove differentiability almost everywhere in valued fields of
characteristic 0
that are C-minimal, definably complete and such that, in the valuation
group,
definable functions are strongly eventually linear.
This is joint work with Pablo Cubides-Kovacsics.

Thu, 18 May 2017
17:30
L6

Theories of presheaf type as a basic setting for topos-theoretic model theory

Olivia Caramello
(IHES)
Abstract

I will review the notion of classifying topos of a first-order (geometric) theory and explain the central role enjoyed by theories of presheaf type (i.e. classified by a presheaf topos) in the context of the topos-theoretic investigation of the model theory of geometric theories. After presenting a few main results and characterizations for theories of presheaf type, I will illustrate the generality of the point of view provided by this class of theories by discussing a topos-theoretic framework unifying and generalizing Fraissé’s construction in model theory and topological Galois theory and leading to an approach to the problem of the independence from l of l-adic cohomology.

Thu, 11 May 2017
17:30
L6

Ample geometries of finite Morley rank

Katrin Tent
(Münster)
Abstract

I will explain the model theoretic notion of ampleness
and present the geometric context of recent constructions.

Thu, 04 May 2017
16:00
L6

Joint Number Theory/Logic Seminar: On he Hilbert Property and the fundamental groups of algebraic varieties

Umberto Zannier
(Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa)
Abstract

This  concerns recent work with P. Corvaja in which we relate the Hilbert Property for an algebraic variety (a kind of axiom linked with Hilbert Irreducibility, relevant e.g. for the Inverse Galois Problem)  with the fundamental group of the variety.
 In particular, this leads to new examples (of surfaces) of  failure of the Hilbert Property. We also prove the Hilbert Property for a non-rational surface (whereas all previous examples involved rational varieties).

Thu, 27 Apr 2017
17:30
L4

Transseries as surreal analytic functions

Vincenzo Mantova
(Leeds)
Abstract

Transseries arise naturally when solving differential equations around essential singularities. Just like most Taylor series are not convergent, most transseries do not converge to real functions, even when using advanced summation techniques.

 

On the other hand, we can show that all classical transseries induce analytic functions on the surreal line. In fact, this holds for an even larger (proper) class of series which we call "omega-series".

 

Omega-series can be composed and differentiated, like LE-series, and they form a differential subfield of surreal numbers equipped with the simplest derivation. This raises once again the question whether all surreal numbers can be also interpreted as functions. Unfortunately, it turns out that the simplest derivation is in fact incompatible with this goal.

 

This is joint work with A. Berarducci.

Thu, 09 Mar 2017
17:30
L6

Multivariate Transseries

Tobias Kaiser
(Passau)
Abstract

We discuss how one can define transseries in several variables. The idea is
to combine the construction of the univariate transseries with a blow up procedure. The
latter allows to normalize transseries in an arbitrary number of variables which makes
them manageable as usual transseries.
 

Fri, 03 Mar 2017
14:30
C5

Ultraproducts and Spec (^Z)

Paola D'Aquino
(Naples)
Abstract

We give a description of the spectra of $\hat{\mathbb Z}$ and of the
finite adeles using  ultraproducts. In describing the prime ideals and the
localizations, ultrapowers of the group $\mathbb Z$ and ultraproducts of
rings of $p$-adic integers are used.

Thu, 09 Feb 2017
17:30
L6

Quasianalytic Ilyashenko algebras

Patrick Speissegger
(Mcmaster)
Abstract

In 1923, Dulac published a proof of the claim that every real analytic vector field on the plane has only finitely many limit cycles (now known as Dulac's Problem). In the mid-1990s, Ilyashenko completed Dulac's proof; his completion rests on the construction of a quasianalytic class of functions. Unfortunately, this class has very few known closure properties. For various reasons I will explain, we are interested in constructing a larger quasianalytic class that is also a Hardy field. This can be achieved using Ilyashenko's idea of superexact asymptotic expansion.  (Joint work with Tobias Kaiser)

Thu, 09 Feb 2017
11:00
C5

The topological closure of algebraic and o-minimal flows in compact tori

Kobi Peterzil
(Haifa)
Abstract

(joint work with Sergei Starchenko)

Let p:C^n ->A be the covering map of a complex abelian variety and let X be an algebraic variety of C^n, or more generally a definable set in an o-minimal expansion of the real field. Ullmo and Yafaev investigated the topological closure of p(X) in A in the above two  settings and conjectured that the frontier of p(X) can be described, when X is algebraic as finitely many cosets of real sub tori of A, They proved the conjecture when dim X=1. They make a similar conjecture for X definable in an o-minimal structure.

In recent work we show that the above conjecture fails as stated, and prove a modified version,  describing the frontier of p(X) as finitely many families of cosets of subtori. We prove a similar result when X is a definable set in an o-minimal structure and p:R^n-> T is the covering map of a real torus.  The proofs use model theory of o-minimal structures as well as algebraically closed valued fields.

Thu, 02 Feb 2017
17:30
L6

On algebraically closed fields of characteristic 1

Boris Zilber
(Oxford)
Abstract

I will start with a motivation of what algebraic and model-theoretic properties an algebraically closed field of characteristic 1 is expected to have. Then I will explain how these properties forces one to follow the route of Hrushovski's construction/Schanuel-type conjecture analysis. Then I am able to formulate very precise axioms that such a field must satisfy.  The main theorem then states that under the axioms the structure has the desired algebraic properties.
The axioms have a form of statements about existence of solutions to systems of equations in terms of a 'multi-dimansional' valuation theory and the validity of these statements is an open problem to be discussed. 

 

Thu, 26 Jan 2017
17:30
L6

Existentially definable henselian valuation rings with p-adic residue fields

Arno Fehm
(Manchester)
Abstract

In joint work with Sylvy Anscombe we had found an abstract
valuation theoretic condition characterizing those fields F for which
the power series ring F[[t]] is existentially 0-definable in its
quotient field F((t)). In this talk I will report on recent joint work
with Sylvy Anscombe and Philip Dittmann in which the study of this
condition leads us to some beautiful results on the border of number
theory and model theory. In particular, I will suggest and apply a
p-adic analogue of Lagrange's Four Squares Theorem.

Thu, 19 Jan 2017
16:00
L6

Joint Logic/Number Theory Seminar: Formality and higher Massey products in Galois cohomology

Adam Topaz
(Oxford)
Abstract

There are several conjectures in the literature suggesting that absolute Galois groups of fields tend to be "as free as possible," given their "almost-abelian" data.
This can be made precise in various ways, one of which is via the notion of "1-formality" arising in analogy with the concept in rational homotopy theory.
In this talk, I will discuss several examples which illustrate this phenomenon, as well as some surprising diophantine consequences.
This discussion will also include some recent joint work with Guillot, Mináč, Tân and Wittenberg, concerning the vanishing of mod-2 4-fold Massey products in the Galois cohomology of number fields.

Thu, 01 Dec 2016
17:30
L6

Pfaffian functions and elliptic functions

Gareth Jones
(Manchester)
Abstract

After giving some motivation, I will discuss work in progress with Harry Schmidt in which we give a pfaffian definition of Weierstrass elliptic functions, refining a result due to Macintyre. The complexity of our definition is bounded by an effective absolute constant. As an application we give an effective version of a result of Corvaja, Masser and Zannier on a sharpening of Manin-Mumford for non-split extensions of elliptic curves by the additive group. We also give a higher dimensional version of their result.

Thu, 24 Nov 2016
17:30
L6

Complexifying $R_{an, exp}$-definable functions

Alex Wilkie
(Oxford)
Abstract

After mentioning, by way of motivation (mine at least), some diophantine questions concerning
sets definable in the restricted analytic, exponential field $\R_{an, exp}$, I discuss the
problem of extending a given $\R_{an, exp}$-definable function $f:(a, \infty) \to \R$ to
a holomorphic function $\hat f : \{z \in \C : Re(z) > b \} \to \C$ (for some $b > a$).
In particular, I give a necessary and sufficient condition on $f$ for such an $\hat f$ to exist and be
$\R_{an, exp}$-definable.
 

Thu, 17 Nov 2016
17:30
L6

Some remarks on duality

Robin Knight
((Oxford University))
Abstract

One of many overlaps between logic and topology is duality: Stone duality links Boolean algebras with zero-dimensional compact Hausdorff spaces, and gives a useful topological way of describing certain phenomena in first order logic; and there are generalisations that allow one to study infinitary logics also. We will look at a couple of ways in which this duality theory is useful.'

Thu, 10 Nov 2016
17:30
L6

Profinite groups with NIP theory and p-adic analytic groups

Dugald Macpherson
(Leeds)
Abstract

I will describe joint work with Katrin Tent, in which we consider a profinite group equipped with a uniformly definable family of open subgroups. We show that if the family is `full’ (i.e. includes all open subgroups) then the group has NIP theory if and only if it has NTP_2 theory, if and only if it has an (open) normal subgroup of finite index which is a direct product of finitely many compact p-adic analytic groups (for distinct primes p). Without the `fullness’ assumption, if the group has NIP theory then it  has a prosoluble open normal subgroup of finite index.

Thu, 03 Nov 2016
16:00
L6

Joint Logic/Number Theory Seminar: Arithmetic applications of $\omega$-integral curves in varieties

Natalia Garcia-Fritz
(Toronto)
Abstract

In 2000, Vojta solved the n-squares problem under the Bombieri-Lang conjecture, by explicitly finding all the curves of genus 0 or 1 on the surfaces related to this problem. The fundamental notion used by him is $\omega$-integrality of curves. 
In this talk, I will show a generalization of Vojta's method to find all curves of low genus in some surfaces, with arithmetic applications.
I will also explain how to use $\omega$-integrality to obtain a bound of the height of a non-constant morphism from a curve to $\mathbb{P}^2$ in terms of the number of intersections (without multiplicities) of its image with a divisor of a particular kind. This proves some new special cases of Vojta's conjecture for function fields.
 

Thu, 13 Oct 2016
17:30
L6

The theory of the entire algebraic functions

Ehud Hrushovski
(Oxford)
Abstract

Van den Dries has proved the decidability of the ring of algebraic integers, the integral closure of the ring of integers in
the algebraic closure of the rationals.  A well-established analogy leads to ask the same question for the ring of complex polynomials.
This turns out to go the other way, interpreting the rational field.    An interesting structure on the
limit of Jacobians of all complex curves is encountered along the way. 

Thu, 16 Jun 2016
17:30
L6

Pseudofinite dimensions and simplicity

Dario Garcia
(Leeds)
Abstract

The concept of pseudofinite dimension for ultraproducts of finite structures was introduced by Hrushovski and Wagner. In this talk, I will present joint work with D. Macpherson and C. Steinhorn in which we explored conditions on the (fine) pseudofinite dimension that guarantee simplicity or supersimplicity of the underlying theory of an ultraproduct of finite structures, as well as a characterization of forking in terms of droping of the pseudofinite dimension. Also, under a suitable assumption, it can be shown that a measure-theoretic condition is equivalent to loc

Thu, 09 Jun 2016
17:30
L6

Finitary properties for a monoid arising from the model theory of $S$-acts

Victoria Gould
(York)
Abstract

*/ /*-->*/ A {\em monoid} is a semigroup with identity. A {\em finitary property for monoids} is a property guaranteed to be satisfied by any finite monoid. A good example is the maximal condition on the lattice of right ideals: if a monoid satisfies this condition we say it is {\em weakly right noetherian}. A monoid $S$ may be represented via mappings of sets or, equivalently and more concretely, by {\em (right) $S$-acts}. Here an $S$-act is a set $A$ together with a map $A\times S\rightarrow A$ where $(a,s)\mapsto as$, such that

for all $a\in A$ and $s,t\in S$ we have $a1=a$ and $(as)t=a(st)$. I will be speaking about finitary properties for monoids arising from model theoretic considerations for $S$-acts.

 

Let $S$ be a monoid and let $L_S$ be the first-order language of $S$-acts, so that $L_S$ has no constant or relational symbols (other than $=$) and a unary function symbol $\rho_s$ for each $s\in S$. Clearly $\Sigma_S$ axiomatises the class of $S$-acts, where

\[\Sigma_S=\big\{ (\forall x)(x\rho_s \rho_t=x\rho_{st}):s,t\in S\big\}\cup\{ (\forall x)(x\rho_1=x)

\}.\]

 

Model theory tells us that $\Sigma_S$

has a model companion $\Sigma_S^*$ precisely when the class

${\mathcal E}$ of existentially closed $S$-acts is axiomatisable and

in this case, $\Sigma_S^*$ axiomatises ${\mathcal E}$. An old result of Wheeler tells us that $\Sigma_S^*$ exists if and only if for every finitely generated right congruence $\mu$ on $S$, every finitely generated $S$-subact of $S/\mu$ is finitely presented, that is, $S$ is {\em right coherent}. Interest in right coherency also arises from other considerations such as {\em purity} for $S$-acts.

Until recently, little was known about right coherent monoids and, in particular, whether free monoids are (right) coherent.

I will present some work of Gould, Hartmann and Ru\v{s}kuc in this direction: specifically we answer positively the question for free monoids.

 

Where $\Sigma_S^*$ exists, it is known to be

stable, and is superstable if and only if $S$ is weakly right noetherian.

By using an algebraic description of types over $\Sigma_S^*$ developed in the 1980s by Fountain and Gould,

we can show that $\Sigma_S^*$ is totally

transcendental if and only if $S$ is weakly right noetherian and $S$ is {\em ranked}. The latter condition says that every right congruence possesses a finite Cantor-Bendixon rank with respect to the {\em finite type topology}.

Our results show that there is a totally transcendental theory of $S$-acts for which Morley rank of types does not coincide with $U$-rank, contrasting with the corresponding situation for modules over a ring.

Thu, 02 Jun 2016
17:30
L6

Analytic properties of zeta functions and model theory

Jamshid Derakhshan
(Oxford)
Abstract
I will talk about meromorphic continuation of Euler products and zeta functions arising from model theory, and applications to
algebra and number theory.
Thu, 26 May 2016
17:30
L6

Topological dynamics of automorphism groups and the Hrushovski constructions

David Evans
((Imperial College, London))
Abstract

I will consider automorphism groups of countable structures acting continuously on compact spaces: the viewpoint of topological dynamics. A beautiful paper of Kechris, Pestov and Todorcevic makes a connection between this and the ‘structural Ramsey theory’ of Nesetril, Rodl and others in finite combinatorics. I will describe some results and questions in the area and say how the Hrushovski predimension constructions provide answers to some of these questions (but then raise more questions). This is joint work with Hubicka and Nesetril.