Equations of mirrors to log Calabi–Yau pairs via the heart of canonical wall structures
ARGÜZ, H Mathematical Proceedings of the Cambridge Philosophical Society volume 175 issue 2 381-421 (11 Sep 2023)
Gromov–Witten theory of complete intersections via nodal invariants
Argüz, H Bousseau, P Pandharipande, R Zvonkine, D Journal of Topology volume 16 issue 1 264-343 (17 Mar 2023)
Fock–Goncharov dual cluster varieties and Gross–Siebert mirrors
Argüz, H Bousseau, P Journal für die reine und angewandte Mathematik (Crelles Journal) (22 Jul 2023)
Quivers and curves in higher dimension
Argüz, H Bousseau, P Transactions of the American Mathematical Society (03 Sep 2024)

The mathematical genius of birds with Christiana Mavroyiakoumou.

Mon, 13 Oct 2025
16:00
C3

Eigenvalues of non-backtracking matrices

Cedric Pilatte
(Mathematical Insitute, Oxford)
Abstract
Understanding the eigenvalues of the adjacency matrix of a (possibly weighted) graph is a problem arising in various fields of mathematics. Since a direct computation of the spectrum is often too difficult, a common strategy is to instead study the trace of a high power of the matrix, which corresponds to a high moment of the eigenvalues. The utility of this method comes from its combinatorial interpretation: the trace counts the weighted, closed walks of a given length within the graph.
 
However, a common obstacle arises when these walk-counts are dominated by trivial "backtracking" walks—walks that travel along an edge and immediately return. Such paths can mask the more meaningful structural properties of the graph, yielding only trivial bounds.
 
This talk will introduce a powerful tool for resolving this issue: the non-backtracking matrix. We will explore the fundamental relationship between its spectrum and that of the original matrix. This technique has been successfully applied in computer science and random graph theory, and it is a key ingredient in upcoming work on the 2-point logarithmic Chowla conjecture.
Fri, 24 Oct 2025
12:00
L3

Gravitational Instantons, Weyl Curvature, and Conformally Kaehler Geometry

Claude LeBrun
(SUNY at Stony Brook)
Abstract

In this talk, I will discuss my joint paper with Olivier Biquard and Paul Gauduchon on ALF Ricci-flat Riemannian  4-manifolds. My collaborators had previously classified all such spaces that are toric and Hermitian, but not Kaehler. Our main result uses an open curvature condition to prove a rigidity result of the following type: any Ricci-flat metric that is sufficiently close to a non-Kaehler, toric, Hermitian ALF solution (with respect to a norm that imposes reasonable fall-off at infinity) is actually  one of the  known Hermitian toric  solutions. 
 

Fri, 17 Oct 2025
13:00
L6

Zero sets from the viewpoint of topological persistence

Vukašin Stojisavljević
(Oxford University)
Abstract

Studying the topology of zero sets of maps is a central topic in many areas of mathematics. Classical homological invariants, such as Betti numbers, are not always suitable for this purpose due to the fact that they do not distinguish between topological features of different sizes. Topological data analysis provides a way to study topology coarsely by ignoring small-scale features. This approach yields generalizations of a number of classical theorems, such as Bézout's theorem and Courant’s nodal domain theorem, to a wider class of maps. We will explain this circle of ideas and discuss potential directions for future research. The talk is partially based on joint works with L. Buhovsky, J. Payette, I. Polterovich, L. Polterovich and E. Shelukhin.

Come along to Mathematrix events throughout the term to connect with other graduate students and postdocs and to discuss issues affecting underrepresented groups in maths. Allies are always encouraged to attend Mathematrix events.

Our first event of term, as always, is our pizza lunch. Come along to hear more about the Mathematrix events in Michaelmas and meet like-minded people in the Mathematical Institute.

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