Please note that the list below only shows forthcoming events, which may not include regular events that have not yet been entered for the forthcoming term. Please see the past events page for a list of all seminar series that the department has on offer.

 

Past events in this series


Thu, 05 Jun 2025
13:30
L5

Seiberg-Witten theory

Harshal Kulkarni
Abstract
Seiberg-Witten theory is a powerful framework for understanding the exact non-perturbative dynamics of 4d $\mathcal{N} = 2$ supersymmetric QFTs. On the Coulomb branch of the moduli space, the low-energy physics is described by an abelian gauge theory with a holomorphic structure constrained by supersymmetry and duality. In this talk, I will explain the emergence of $PSL(2,\mathbb{Z})$ invariance in this effective field theory and how this naturally leads to a fibration of elliptic curves over the Coulomb branch. Focusing on the simplest case of $\mathcal{N} = 2$ SU(2) gauge theory without flavors, I will discuss the singularity structure of the Coulomb branch and the physical significance of these special points. I will conclude by briefly commenting on the central role that the singular structure of the moduli space plays in the classification of 4d $\mathcal{N}=2$ SCFTs.
 

Junior Strings is a seminar series where DPhil students present topics of common interest that do not necessarily overlap with their own research area. This is primarily aimed at PhD students and post-docs but everyone is welcome.

Thu, 19 Jun 2025
13:30
L5

From path integrals to… financial markets?

Giuseppe Bogna
Abstract

Ever wondered how ideas from physics can used in real-world scenarios? Come to this talk to understand what is an option and how they are traded in markets. I will recall some basic notions of stochastic calculus and derive the Black-Scholes (BS) equation for plain vanilla options. The BS equation can be solved using standard path integral techniques, that also allow to price more exotic derivatives. Finally, I will discuss whether the assumptions behind Black-Scholes dynamics are reasonable in real-world markets (spoiler: they're not), volatility smiles and term structures of the implied volatility.

 

Junior Strings is a seminar series where DPhil students present topics of common interest that do not necessarily overlap with their own research area. This is primarily aimed at PhD students and post-docs but everyone is welcome.