Forthcoming events in this series


Wed, 29 Oct 2014
14:00
L2

The Structure of Counterexamples to Vaught's Conjecture

Robin Knight
(Oxford)
Abstract

Counterexamples to Vaught's Conjecture regarding the number of countable
models of a theory in a logical language, may felicitously be studied by investigating a tree
of types of different arities and belonging to different languages. This
tree emerges from a category of topological spaces, and may be studied as such, without
reference to the original logic. The tree has an intuitive character of absoluteness
and of self-similarity. We present theorems expressing these ideas, some old and some new.

Wed, 22 Oct 2014
16:00
C2

Algebraic characterisation of convergence

Robert Leek
(Oxford)
Abstract
 
Using an internal characterisation of radiality or
> Fréchet-Urysohness, we can translate this property into other structural
> forms for many problems and classes of spaces. In this talk, I will
> recap this internal characterisation and translate the properties of
> being radial / Fréchet-Urysohn (Stone-Čech, Hewitt) into the prime ideal
> structure on C*(X) / C(X) for Tychonoff spaces, with a view to reaching
> out to other parts of algebra, e.g. C*-algebras, algebraic geometry, etc.
Wed, 18 Jun 2014
16:00
C4

The set functions T, K and S.

Leobardo Fernandez Ramon
(Mexico City and Birmingham)
Abstract

 A continuum is a non-empty compact connected metric space. Given a continuum X let P(X) be the power set of X. We define the following set functions:
T:P(X) to P(X) given by, for each A in P(X), T(A) = X \ { x in X : there is a continuum W such that x is in Int(W) and W does not intersect A}
K:P(X) to P(X) given by, for each A in P(X), K(A) = Intersection{ W : W is a subcontinuum of X and A is in the interior of W}
S:P(X) to P(X) given by, for each A in P(X), S(A) = { x in T(A) : A intersects T(x)}
Some properties and relations between these functions are going to be presented.

Wed, 05 Mar 2014
16:00
C4

tba

Kohei Kishida
(Computing Laboratory)
Wed, 26 Feb 2014
14:30
L2

Point versus set topology: constructing examples by splitting points

Mike Reed
(Munich)
Abstract

The main result is to give a separable, Cech-complete, 0-dimensional Moore space that is not Scott-domain representable. This result answered questions in the literature; it is known that each complete mertrisable space is Scott-domain representable. The talk will give a history of the techniques involved.

Wed, 13 Nov 2013
16:00
C4

Baire, Berz, Burton Jones and Steinhaus: linearity from subadditivity

Adam Ostaszewski
(LSE)
Abstract

Berz used the Hahn-Banach Theorem over Q to prove that the graph of a measurable subadditive function that is non-negatively Q-homogeneous consists of two lines through the origin. I will give a proof using the density topology and Steinhaus’ Sum-set Theorem. This dualizes to a much simpler category version: a `Baire-Berz Theorem’. I will give the broader picture of this using F. Burton Jones’ analysis of additivity versus linearity. Shift-compactness and special subsets of R will be an inevitable ingredient. The talk draws on recent work with Nick Bingham and separately with Harry I. Miller.

Wed, 27 Feb 2013
16:00
L3

Symbolic dynamics: taking another look at complex quadratic maps

Andy Barwell
(Heilbronn Institute)
Abstract

Complex dynamical systems have been very well studied in recent years, in particular since computer graphics now enable us to peer deep into structures such as the Mandlebrot set and Julia sets, which beautifully illustrate the intricate dynamical behaviour of these systems. Using new techniques from Symbolic Dynamics, we demonstrate previously unknown properties of a class of quadratic maps on their Julia sets.

Wed, 13 Feb 2013
16:00
L3

Structural analysis of Monogamy and Macroscopic Correlations

Rui Soares Barbosa
(Computer Science)
Abstract

 We consider the emergence of classical correlations in macroscopic quantum systems, and its connection to monogamy relations for violation of Bell-type inequalities. We work within the framework of Abramsky and Brandenburger [1], which provides a unified treatment of non-locality and contextuality in the general setting of no-signalling empirical models. General measurement scenarios are represented by simplicial complexes that capture the notion of compatibility of measurements. Monogamy and locality/noncontextuality of macroscopic correlations are revealed by our analysis as two sides of the same coin: macroscopic correlations are obtained by averaging along a symmetry (group action) on the simplicial complex of measurements, while monogamy relations are exactly the inequalities that are invariant with respect to that symmetry. Our results exhibit a structural reason for monogamy relations and consequently for the classicality of macroscopic correlations in the case of multipartite scenarios, shedding light on and generalising the results in [2,3].More specifically, we show that, however entangled the microscopic state of the system, and provided the number of particles in each site is large enough (with respect to the number of allowed measurements), only classical (local realistic) correlations will be observed macroscopically. The result depends only on the compatibility structure of the measurements (the simplicial complex), hence it applies generally to any no-signalling empirical model. The macroscopic correlations can be defined on the quotient of the simplicial complex by the symmetry that lumps together like microscopic measurements into macroscopic measurements. Given enough microscopic particles, the resulting complex satisfies a structural condition due to Vorob'ev [4] that is necessary and sufficient for any probabilistic model to be classical.  The generality of our scheme suggests a number of promising directions. In particular, they can be applied in more general scenarios to yield monogamy relations for contextuality inequalities and to study macroscopic non-contextuality.

[1] Samson Abramsky and Adam Brandenburger, The sheaf-theoretic structure of non-locality and contextuality, New Journal of Physics 13 (2011), no. 113036.
[2] MarcinPawłowski and Caslav Brukner, Monogamy of Bell’s inequality violations in nonsignaling theories, Phys. Rev. Lett. 102 (2009), no. 3, 030403.
[3] R. Ramanathan, T. Paterek, A. Kay, P. Kurzynski, and D. Kaszlikowski, Local realism of macroscopic correlations, Phys. Rev. Lett. 107 (2011), no. 6, 060405.
[4] N.N.Vorob’ev, Consistent families of measures and their extensions, Theory of Probability and its Applications VII (1962), no. 2, 147–163, (translated by N. Greenleaf, Russian original published in Teoriya Veroyatnostei i ee Primeneniya).

Wed, 06 Feb 2013
16:00
L3

tba

Robin Knight
(Oxford)
Wed, 30 Jan 2013
16:00
L3

tba

Joel Ouaknine
(Oxford)
Wed, 24 Oct 2012
16:00
L3

tba

tba
Wed, 15 Aug 2012 00:00 -
Fri, 17 Aug 2012 00:00

Research Workshop 2 on 'Duality Theory in Algebra, Logic and Computer Science'.

Abstract

Organisers: Hilary Priestley, Drew Moshier and Leo Cabrer.

This will be devoted to the applications of dualities to logic and algebra, focusing on general techniques. Thus it will seek to complement the specialised coverage in meetings devoted to, for example, modal logic, residuated structures and many-valued logics, or coalgebras. The featured topics for the Workshop will be drawn from completions of ordered structures, and applications; admissible rules, unification theory, interpolation and amalgamation; aspects of many-valued and substructural logics and ordered algebraic structures. Keynote speakers will be Leo Cabrer and Mai Gehrke.

Mon, 09 Jul 2012 00:00 -
Wed, 11 Jul 2012 00:00

'Galway' Topology Symposium.

Abstract

Chief Organiser: Shari Levine.  Main speakers: Alexander Arhangel'skii, Alan Dow, Aisling McCluskey, Jan van Mill, Frank Tall, Vladimir Tkachuk

Contact for further information: @email

Wed, 06 Jun 2012

16:00 - 17:30
L3

A space that admits all possible orbit spectra of homeomorphisms of uncountable compact metric spaces

Chris Good
(University of Birmingham)
Abstract

Joint work with: Sina Greenwood, Brian Raines and Casey Sherman

Abstract: We say a space $X$ with property $\C P$ is \emph{universal} for orbit spectra of homeomorphisms with property $\C P$ provided that if $Y$ is any space with property $\C P$ and the same cardinality as $X$ and $h:Y\to Y$ is any (auto)homeomorphism then there is a homeomorphism$g:X\to X$ such that the orbit equivalence classes for $h$ and $g$ are isomorphic. We construct a compact metric space $X$ that is universal for homeomorphisms of compact metric spaces of cardinality the continuum. There is no universal space for countable compact metric spaces. In the presence of some set theoretic assumptions we also give a separable metric space of size continuum that is universal for homeomorphisms on separable metric spaces.

Wed, 22 Feb 2012
16:00
L3

tba

tba
Wed, 15 Feb 2012
16:00
L3

tba

Nick Bezhanishvili
(Imperial College)
Wed, 01 Feb 2012
16:00
L3

Topological dualities for distributive meet-semilattices, implicative semilattices and Hilbert algebras

Ramon Jansana
(Barcelona)
Abstract

 I will first present Priestley style topological dualities for 
several categories of distributive meet-semilattices
and implicative semilattices developed by G. Bezhanishvili and myself. 
Using these dualities I will introduce a topological duality for Hilbert 
algebras, 
the algebras that correspond to the implicative reduct of intuitionistic logic.

Fri, 27 Jan 2012
09:00
L3

Admissibility and Unification through Natural Duality >

Leonardo Cabrer
(Bern)
Abstract

Dualities of various types have been used by different authors to 
describe free and projective objects in a large
  number of classes of algebras. Particularly, natural dualities provide a 
general tool to describe free objects. In
  this talk we present two interesting applications of this fact. 
  We first provide a combinatorial classification of unification problems 
by their unification type for the
varieties of Bounded Distributive Lattices, Kleene algebras, De Morgan 
algebras. Finally we provide axiomatizations forsingle
and multiple conclusion admissible rules for the varieties of Kleene 
algebras, De Morgan algebras, Stone algebras.

Wed, 30 Nov 2011

16:00 - 17:30
L3

Interlaced Lattices

Umberto Rivieccio
(University of Birmingham)
Abstract

I will give an overview of some of the most interesting algebraic-lattice theoretical results on bilattices. I will focus in particular on the product construction that is used to represent a subclass of bilattices, the so-called 'interlaced bilattices', mentioning some alternative strategies to prove such a result. If time allows, I will discuss other algebras of logic related to bilattices (e.g., Nelson lattices) and their product representation.