Thu, 14 Oct 2021
11:30
Virtual

Forking independence in the free group

Chloé Perin
(The Hebrew University of Jerusalem)
Abstract

Sela proved in 2006 that the (non abelian) free groups are stable. This implies the existence of a well-behaved forking independence relation, and raises the natural question of giving an algebraic description in the free group of this model-theoretic notion. In a joint work with Rizos Sklinos we give such a description (in a standard fg model F, over any set A of parameters) in terms of the JSJ decomposition of F over A, a geometric group theoretic tool giving a group presentation of F in terms of a graph of groups which encodes much information about its automorphism group relative to A. The main result states that two tuples of elements of F are forking independent over A if and only if they live in essentially disjoint parts of such a JSJ decomposition.

Wed, 13 Oct 2021

16:00 - 17:00
C5

One-relator groups

Monika Kudlinska
(University of Oxford)
Abstract

Given an arbitrary group presentation, often very little can be deduced about the underlying group. It is thus something of a miracle that many properties of one-relator groups can be simply read-off from the defining relator. In this talk, I will discuss some of the classical results in the theory of one-relator groups, as well as the key trick used in many of their proofs. Time-permitting, I'll also discuss more recent work on this subject, including some open problems.

Wed, 13 Oct 2021

14:00 - 15:00
L5

The long shadow of 4d N = 2 SCFTs in mathematics: four minitalks

Abstract

4d N=2 SCFTs are extremely important structures. In the first minitalk we will introduce them, then we will show three areas of mathematics with which this area of physics interacts. The minitalks are independent. The talk will be hybrid, with teams link below.

The junior Geometry and Physics seminar aims to bring together people from both areas, giving talks which are interesting and understandable to both.

Website: https://sites.google.com/view/oxfordpandg/physics-and-geometry-seminar

Teams link: https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fteams.microsoft.com%2Fl%2Fme…

Tue, 12 Oct 2021

15:30 - 16:30
L6

Exact correlations in topological quantum chains

Nick Jones
(University of Oxford)
Abstract

Free fermion chains are particularly simple exactly solvable models. Despite this, typically one can find closed expressions for physically important correlators only in certain asymptotic limits. For a particular class of chains, I will show that we can apply Day's formula and Gorodetsky's formula for Toeplitz determinants with rational generating function. This leads to simple closed expressions for determinantal order parameters and the characteristic polynomial of the correlation matrix. The latter result allows us to prove that the ground state of the chain has an exact matrix-product state representation.

Tue, 12 Oct 2021

15:30 - 16:30
L5

The Mirror Clemens-Schmid Sequence

Alan Thompson
(Loughborough)
Abstract

I will present a four-term exact sequence relating the cohomology of a fibration to the cohomology of an open set obtained by removing the preimage of a general linear section of the base. This exact sequence respects three filtrations, the Hodge, weight, and perverse Leray filtrations, so that it is an exact sequence of mixed 
Hodge structures on the graded pieces of the perverse Leray filtration. I claim that this sequence should be thought of as a mirror to the Clemens-Schmid sequence describing the structure of a degeneration and formulate a "mirror P=W" conjecture relating the filtrations on each side. Finally, I will present evidence for this conjecture coming from the K3 surface setting. This is joint work with Charles F. Doran.

Tue, 12 Oct 2021
14:30
L3

A proposal for the convergence analysis of parallel-in-time algorithms on nonlinear problems

Gian Antonucci
(University of Oxford)
Abstract

Over the last few decades, scientists have conducted extensive research on parallelisation in time, which appears to be a promising way to provide additional parallelism when parallelisation in space saturates before all parallel resources have been used. For the simulations of interest to the Culham Centre of Fusion Energy (CCFE), however, time parallelisation is highly non-trivial, because the exponential divergence of nearby trajectories makes it hard for time-parallel numerical integration to achieve convergence. In this talk we present our results for the convergence analysis of parallel-in-time algorithms on nonlinear problems, focussing on what is widely accepted to be the prototypical parallel-in-time method, the Parareal algorithm. Next, we introduce a new error function to measure convergence based on the maximal Lyapunov exponents, and show how it improves the overall parallel speedup when compared to the traditional check used in the literature. We conclude by mentioning how the above tools can help us design and analyse a novel algorithm for the long-time integration of chaotic systems that uses time-parallel algorithms as a sub-procedure.

Tue, 12 Oct 2021
14:00
Virtual

Generalized birthday problem for October 12

Sumit Mukherjee
(Columbia)
Further Information

Part of the Oxford Discrete Maths and Probability Seminar, held via Zoom. Please see the seminar website for details. Joint with the Random Matrix Theory Seminar.

Abstract

Suppose there are $n$ students in a class. But assume that not everybody is friends with everyone else, and there is a graph which determines the friendship structure. What is the chance that there are two friends in this class, both with birthdays on October 12? More generally, given a simple labelled graph $G_n$ on $n$ vertices, color each vertex with one of $c=c_n$ colors chosen uniformly at random, independent from other vertices. We study the question: what is the number of monochromatic edges of color 1?

As it turns out, the limiting distribution has three parts, the first and second of which are quadratic and linear functions of a homogeneous Poisson point process, and the third component is an independent Poisson. In fact, we show that any distribution limit must belong to the closure of this class of random variables. As an application, we characterize exactly when the limiting distribution is a Poisson random variable.

This talk is based on joint work with Bhaswar Bhattacharya and Somabha Mukherjee.

Tue, 12 Oct 2021

14:00 - 15:00
C5

The Nobel Prize in Physics 2021: the year of complex systems

Erik Hörmann
(University of Oxford)
Abstract

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has today decided to award the 2021 Nobel Prize in Physics for ground-breaking contributions to our understanding of complex physical systems

 

Last Tuesday this announcement got many in our community very excited: never before had the Nobel prize been awarded to a topic so closely related to Network Science. We will try to understand the contributions that have led to this Nobel Prize announcement and their ties with networks science. The presentation will be held by Erik Hörmann, who has been lucky enough to have had the honour and pleasure of studying and working with one of the awardees, Professor Giorgio Parisi, before joining the Mathematical Institute.

Tue, 12 Oct 2021
14:00
L3

Preconditioning for normal equations and least squares

Andy Wathen
(University of Oxford)
Abstract

The solution of systems of linear(ized) equations lies at the heart of many problems in Scientific Computing. In particular for large systems, iterative methods are a primary approach. For many symmetric (or self-adjoint) systems, there are effective solution methods based on the Conjugate Gradient method (for definite problems) or minres (for indefinite problems) in combination with an appropriate preconditioner, which is required in almost all cases. For nonsymmetric systems there are two principal lines of attack: the use of a nonsymmetric iterative method such as gmres, or tranformation into a symmetric problem via the normal equations. In either case, an appropriate preconditioner is generally required. We consider the possibilities here, particularly the idea of preconditioning the normal equations via approximations to the original nonsymmetric matrix. We highlight dangers that readily arise in this approach. Our comments also apply in the context of linear least squares problems as we will explain.

Tue, 12 Oct 2021
12:00
Virtual

Quantized twistors and split octonions

Roger Penrose
Abstract

The non-compact exceptional simple group G_2* turns out to be the symmetry group of quantized twistor theory. Certain implications of this remarkable fact will be explored in this talk.

Mon, 11 Oct 2021

16:00 - 17:00
C1

Computing p-adic L-functions of Hecke characters

Håvard Damm-Johnsen
(Oxford)
Abstract

In 1973, Serre defined $p$-adic modular forms as limits of modular forms, and constructed the Leopoldt-Kubota $L$-function as the constant term of a limit of Eisenstein series. This was extended by Deligne-Ribet to totally real number fields, and Lauder and Vonk have developed an algorithm for interpolating $p$-adic $L$-functions of such fields using Serre's idea. We explain what an $L$-function is and why you should care, and then move on to giving an overview of the algorithm, extensions, and applications.

Mon, 11 Oct 2021

16:00 - 17:00
L3

Arbitrage-free neural-SDE market models

SAMUEL COHEN
(University of Oxford)
Abstract

Modelling joint dynamics of liquid vanilla options is crucial for arbitrage-free pricing of illiquid derivatives and managing risks of option trade books. This paper develops a nonparametric model for the European options book respecting underlying financial constraints and while being practically implementable. We derive a state space for prices which are free from static (or model-independent) arbitrage and study the inference problem where a model is learnt from discrete time series data of stock and option prices. We use neural networks as function approximators for the drift and diffusion of the modelled SDE system, and impose constraints on the neural nets such that no-arbitrage conditions are preserved. In particular, we give methods to calibrate neural SDE models which are guaranteed to satisfy a set of linear inequalities. We validate our approach with numerical experiments using data generated from a Heston stochastic local volatility model, and will discuss some initial results using real data.

 

Based on joint work with Christoph Reisinger and Sheng Wang

Mon, 11 Oct 2021
15:45
L4

Leary–Minasyan groups and generalisations

Sam Hughes
(Oxford University)
Abstract

In this talk we will introduce Leary and Minasyan's CAT(0) but not biautomatic groups as lattices in a product of a Euclidean space and a tree.  We will then investigate properties of general lattices in that product space.  We will also consider a construction of lattices in a Salvetti complex for a right-angled Artin group and a Euclidean space.  Finally, if time permits we will also discuss a "hyperbolic Leary–Minasyan group" and some work in progress with Motiejus Valiunas towards an application.

Mon, 11 Oct 2021

14:15 - 15:15
L4

Minimal surfaces, spectral geometry and homogenisation

Jean Lagacé
(University of Bristol)
Abstract

Free boundary minimal surfaces are a notoriously elusive object in geometric analysis. From 2011, Fraser and Schoen's research program found a relationship between free boundary minimal surfaces in unit balls and metrics which maximise the first nontrivial Steklov eigenvalue. In this talk, I will explain how we can adapt homogenisation theory, a branch of applied mathematics, to a geometric setting in order to obtain surfaces with first Steklov eigenvalue as large as possible, and how it leads to the existence of free boundary minimal surfaces which were previously thought not to exist.

Mon, 11 Oct 2021
12:45
L4

Cluster Structures in N=4 Yang-Mills Amplitudes

Anders Schreiber
(Oxford University)
Abstract

Scattering amplitudes in N=4 super-Yang-Mills theory are known to be functions of cluster variables of Gr(4,n) and certain algebraic functions of cluster variables. In this talk we give an overview of the known cluster algebraic structure of both tree amplitudes and the symbol of loop amplitudes. We suggest an algorithm for computing symbol alphabets by solving matrix equations of the form C.Z = 0 associated with plabic graphs. These matrix equations associate functions on Gr(m,n) to parameterizations of certain cells of Gr_+ (k,n) indexed by plabic graphs. We are able to reproduce all known algebraic functions of cluster variables appearing in known symbol alphabets. We further show that it is possible to obtain all rational symbol letters (in fact all cluster variables) by solving C.Z = 0 if one allows C to be an arbitrary cluster parameterization of the top cell of Gr_+ (n-4,n). Finally we discuss a property of the symbol called cluster adjacency.

Tue, 05 Oct 2021

14:00 - 15:00
Virtual

FFTA: Exact solutions for the SI model on networks

Wout Merbis
(University of Amsterdam)
Abstract

The SI model is the most basic of all compartmental models used to describe the spreading of information through a population. In this talk we will present a mathematical formalism to solve the SI model on generic networks. Our methods rely on a tensor product formulation of the dynamical spreading process, inspired by many-body quantum systems. Here we will focus on time-dependent expectation values for the state of individual nodes, which can be obtained from contributions of subgraphs of the network. We show how to compute these contributions systematically and derive a set of symmetry relations among subgraphs of differing topologies. We conclude by comparing our results for small sample networks to Monte-Carlo simulations and mean-field approximations.

arXiv link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2109.03530

Thu, 30 Sep 2021

08:00 - 20:30

Woolly Owl

(DAMTP, University of Cambridge)
Further Information

The coach departs the Andrew Wiles Building @ 8am - to University of Cambridge. Returning from Cambridge at 18:30.

The Woolly Owl is a day of short research talks by early career applied mathematics researchers at Oxford and Cambridge, showcasing the outstanding research of the two universities. But there’s a twist: over the course of the day the seven speakers from each side will also be competing as a team to win the coveted - and literal - Woolly Owl trophy.

 

If you wish to attend please email: @email

Places are limited, so first come, first served. 

Fri, 24 Sep 2021

11:45 - 13:00
L4

InFoMM CDT Group Meeting

Huining Yang, Alexandru Puiu
(Mathematical Insitute, Oxford)
Wed, 22 Sep 2021

09:00 - 10:00
Virtual

Stochastic Flows and Rough Differential Equations on Foliated Spaces

Yuzuru Inahama
(Kyushu University)
Further Information
Abstract

Stochastic differential equations (SDEs) on compact foliated spaces were introduced a few years ago. As a corollary, a leafwise Brownian motion on a compact foliated space was obtained as a solution to an SDE. In this work we construct stochastic flows associated with the SDEs by using rough path theory, which is something like a 'deterministic version' of Ito's SDE theory.

This is joint work with Kiyotaka Suzaki.

Wed, 08 Sep 2021

09:00 - 10:00
Virtual

Co-clustering Analysis of Multidimensional Big Data

Hong Yan
(City University of Hong Kong)
Further Information
Abstract

Although a multidimensional data array can be very large, it may contain coherence patterns much smaller in size. For example, we may need to detect a subset of genes that co-express under a subset of conditions. In this presentation, we discuss our recently developed co-clustering algorithms for the extraction and analysis of coherent patterns in big datasets. In our method, a co-cluster, corresponding to a coherent pattern, is represented as a low-rank tensor and it can be detected from the intersection of hyperplanes in a high dimensional data space. Our method has been used successfully for DNA and protein data analysis, disease diagnosis, drug therapeutic effect assessment, and feature selection in human facial expression classification. Our method can also be useful for many other real-world data mining, image processing and pattern recognition applications.

Wed, 18 Aug 2021

11:00 - 12:00
Virtual

Learnable intra-layer feedback response in Spiking Neural Networks

Anton-David Almasan
(Thales Group)
Further Information

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Tue, 06 Jul 2021

17:00 - 18:00

Mathemalchemy: a mathematical and artistic adventure - Ingrid Daubechies

Ingrid Daubechies
(Duke University)
Further Information

A collaborative art installation celebrating the joy, creativity and beauty of mathematics has been in the works for the past two years, and will soon be ready to emerge from its long gestation. The original idea, conceived by textile artist Dominique Ehrmann and mathematician Ingrid Daubechies inspired a team of 24 Mathemalchemists to work together, transforming the whole conception in the process, and bringing their individual expertise and whimsy to a large installation.

Despite the challenges of Covid-19, the team created a fantasy world where herons haul up nets loaded with special knots in the Knotical scene, a tortoise meditates while ambling along Zeno's path, chipmunks and squirrels ponder the mysteries of prime numbers, and a cat named Arnold bakes cookies that tile the plane in the Mandelbrot bakery; and a myriad more mathematical ideas swirl through the air.

This presentation will introduce some of the ideas and components, and show the team at work. Here's a sneak preview:
www.mathemalchemy.org
@mathemalchemy

Multi-award winning Ingrid Daubechies is James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Mathematics and Electrical and Computer Engineering at Duke University.

Watch (no need to register and it will remain available after broadcast):
Oxford Mathematics YouTube

The Oxford Mathematics Public Lectures are generously supported by XTX Markets.

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Tue, 29 Jun 2021
14:00
Virtual

Asymptotics for the wave equation on black hole spacetimes

Stefanos Aretakis
(Toronto)
Abstract

We will present the precise late-time asymptotics for scalar fields on both extremal and sub-extremal black holes including the full Reissner-Nordstrom family and the subextremal Kerr family. Asymptotics for higher angular modes will be presented for all cases. Applications in observational signatures will also be discussed. This work is joint with Y. Angelopoulos (Caltech) and D. Gajic (Cambridge)

Mon, 28 Jun 2021
11:30
Virtual

Feynman integrals from the viewpoint of Picard-Lefschetz theory

Marko Berghoff
(Oxford)
Abstract

I will present work in progress with Erik Panzer, Matteo Parisi and Ömer Gürdoğan on the analytic structure of Feynman(esque) integrals: We consider integrals of meromorphic differential forms over relative cycles in a compact complex manifold, the underlying geometry encoded in a certain (parameter dependant) subspace arrangement (e.g. Feynman integrals in their parametric representation). I will explain how the analytic struture of such integrals can be studied via methods from differential topology; this is the seminal work by Pham et al (using tools and methods developed by Leray, Thom, Picard-Lefschetz etc.). Although their work covers a very general setup, the case we need for Feynman integrals has never been worked out in full detail. I will comment on the gaps that have to be filled to make the theory work, then discuss how much information about the analytic structure of integrals can be derived from a careful study of the corresponding subspace arrangement.

Fri, 25 Jun 2021

11:45 - 13:15
Virtual

InFoMM CDT Group Meeting

Joel Dyer, Constantin Puiu, Markus Dablander
(Mathematical Institute)
Thu, 24 Jun 2021

17:00 - 18:00

Equal Opportunity Cities (this lecture is open to everyone)

Sandy Pentland
(MIT)
Further Information

Using data from four continents, we show that diversity of consumption and of diversity of social exposure are perhaps the single most powerful predictor of life outcomes such as increasing neighborhood GDP, increasing individual wealth, and promoting intergenerational mobility, even after controlling for variables such as population density, housing price, and geographic centrality. The effects of diversity in promoting opportunity are causal, and inequality in opportunity stems more from social norms that promote segregation than from physical segregation. Policies to promote more equal opportunities within cities seem practical.

You can register here. Everyone is welcome.

Tue, 22 Jun 2021
11:00
Virtual

90 minutes of CCC

Roger Penrose et al.
Abstract

This is a joint GR-QFT seminar, to celebrate in advance the 90th birthday of Roger Penrose later in the summer, comprising 9 talks on conformal cyclic cosmology.  The provisional schedule is as follows:

11:00 Roger Penrose (Oxford, UK) : The Initial Driving Forces Behind CCC

11:10 Paul Tod (Oxford, UK) : Questions for CCC

11:20 Vahe Gurzadyan (Yerevan, Armenia): CCC predictions and CMB

11:30 Krzysztof Meissner (Warsaw, Poland): Perfect fluids in CCC

11:40 Daniel An (SUNY, USA) : Finding information in the Cosmic Microwave Background data

11:50 Jörg Frauendiener (Otago, New Zealand) : Impulsive waves in de Sitter space and their impact on the present aeon

12:00 Pawel Nurowski (Warsaw, Poland and Guangdong Technion, China): Poincare-Einstein expansion and CCC

12:10 Luis Campusano (FCFM, Chile) : (Very) Large Quasar Groups

12:20 Roger Penrose (Oxford, UK) : What has CCC achieved; where can it go from here?

Mon, 21 Jun 2021

16:00 - 17:00
Virtual

Correlations of almost primes

Natalie Evans
(KCL)
Abstract

The Hardy-Littlewood generalised twin prime conjecture states an asymptotic formula for the number of primes $p\le X$ such that $p+h$ is prime for any non-zero even integer $h$. While this conjecture remains wide open, Matom\"{a}ki, Radziwi{\l}{\l} and Tao proved that it holds on average over $h$, improving on a previous result of Mikawa. In this talk we will discuss an almost prime analogue of the Hardy-Littlewood conjecture for which we can go beyond what is known for primes. We will describe some recent work in which we prove an asymptotic formula for the number of almost primes $n=p_1p_2 \le X$ such that $n+h$ has exactly two prime factors which holds for a very short average over $h$.

Mon, 21 Jun 2021

16:00 - 17:00

On Set-valued Backward SDEs and Related Issues in Set-valued Stochastic Analysis

JIN MA
(University of Southern California)
Abstract

Abstract: In this talk we try to establish an analytic framework for studying Set-Valued Backward Stochastic Differential Equations (SVBSDE for short), motivated largely by the current studies of dynamic set-valued risk measures for multi-asset or network-based financial models. Our framework will be based on the notion of Hukuhara difference between sets, in order to compensate the lack of “inverse” operation of the traditional Minkowski addition, whence the vector space structure, in traditional set-valued analysis. We shall examine and establish a useful foundation of set-valued stochastic analysis under this algebraic framework, including some fundamental issues regarding Aumann-Itˆo integrals, especially when it is connected to the martingale representation theorem. We shall identify some fundamental challenges and propose some extensions of the existing theory that are necessary to study the SVBSDEs. This talk is based on the joint works with C¸ a˘gın Ararat and Wenqian Wu.

Mon, 21 Jun 2021
14:15
Virtual

Floer homotopy theory and Morava K-theory

Andrew Blumberg
(University of Texas at Austin)
Abstract

I will describe joint work with Abouzaid which constructs a stable homotopy theory refinement of Floer homology that has coefficients in the Morava K-theory spectra. The classifying spaces of finite groups satisfy Poincare duality for the Morava K-theories, which allows us to use this version of Floer homology to produce virtual fundamental chains for moduli spaces of Floer trajectories. As an application, we prove the Arnold conjecture for ordinary cohomology with coefficients in finite fields.

Fri, 18 Jun 2021

16:00 - 17:00
Virtual

Ethics and responsible innovation - what is it and how does it affect our research in mathematics?

Helena Webb
(University of Oxford)
Abstract

How aware should we be of letting AI make decisions on prison sentences? Or what is our responsibility in ensuring that mathematics does not predict another global stock crash?

In this talk, Helena will outline how we can view ethics and responsibility as central to processes of innovation and describe her experiences applying this perspective to teaching in the Department of Computer Science. There will be a chance to open up discussion about how this same approach can be applied in other Departments here in Oxford.

Helena is an interdisciplinary researcher working in the Department of Computer Science. She works on projects that involve examining the social impacts of computer-based innovations and identifying the ways in which these innovations can better meet societal needs and empower users. Helena is very passionate about the need to embed ethics and responsibility into processes of learning and research in order to foster technologies for the social good.

Fri, 18 Jun 2021

14:00 - 15:00
Virtual

Jacobson's Commutativity Problem

Mike Daas
(Leiden University)
Abstract

It is a well-known fact that Boolean rings, those rings in which $x^2 = x$ for all $x$, are necessarily commutative. There is a short and completely elementary proof of this. One may wonder what the situation is for rings in which $x^n = x$ for all $x$, where $n > 2$ is some positive integer. Jacobson and Herstein proved a very general theorem regarding these rings, and the proof follows a widely applicable strategy that can often be used to reduce questions about general rings to more manageable ones. We discuss this strategy, but will also focus on a different approach: can we also find ''elementary'' proofs of some special cases of the theorem? We treat a number of these explicit computations, among which a few new results.

Fri, 18 Jun 2021

14:00 - 15:00
Virtual

Analysis of temporal event sequences: challenges and opportunities in healthcare

Dr Maria-Cruz Villa Uriol
(Department of Computer Science The University of Sheffield)
Abstract

Our society is witnessing an exponential growth of data being generated. Among the various data types being routinely collected, event logs are available in a wide variety of domains. Despite historical and structural digitalisation challenges, healthcare is an example where the analysis of event logs might bring a new revolution.

In this talk, I will present our recent efforts in analysing and exploring temporal event data sequences extracted from event logs. Our visual analytics approach is able to summarise and seamlessly explore large volumes of complex event data sequences. We are able to easily derive observations and findings that otherwise would have required significant investment of time and effort.  To facilitate the identification of findings, we use a hierarchical clustering approach to cluster sequences according to time and a novel visualisation environment.  To control the level of detail presented to the analyst, we use a hierarchical aggregation tree and an Align-Score-Simplify strategy based on an information score.   To show the benefits of this approach, I will present our results in three real world case studies: CUREd, Outpatient clinics and MIMIC-III. These will respectively cover the analysis of calls and responses of emergency services, the efficiency of operation of two outpatient clinics, and the evolution of patients with atrial fibrillation hospitalised in an acute and critical care unit. To finalise the talk, I will share our most recent work in the analysis of clinical events extracted from Electronic Health Records for the study of multimorbidity.

Fri, 18 Jun 2021

13:30 - 17:00

Groups and Geometry in the South East

Piotr Przytycki, Elia Fioravanti, Rylee Lyman
(McGill & Bonn & Rutgers-Newark)
Further Information

Tits Alternative in dimension 2

1:30-2:30PM

Piotr Przytycki (McGill)

A group G satisfies the Tits alternative if each of its finitely generated subgroups contains a non-abelian free group or is virtually solvable. I will sketch a proof of a theorem saying that if G acts geometrically on a simply connected nonpositively curved complex built of equilateral triangles, then it satisfies the Tits alternative. This is joint work with Damian Osajda.

Coarse-median preserving automorphisms

2:45-3:45PM

Elia Fioravanti (Bonn)

We study fixed subgroups of automorphisms of right-angled Artin and Coxeter groups. If Phi is an untwisted automorphism of a RAAG, or an arbitrary automorphism of a RACG, we prove that Fix(Phi) is finitely generated and undistorted. Up to replacing Phi with a power, the fixed subgroup is actually quasi-convex with respect to the standard word metric (which implies that it is separable and a virtual retract, by work of Haglund and Wise). Our techniques also apply to automorphisms of hyperbolic groups and to certain automorphisms of hierarchically hyperbolic groups. Based on arXiv:2101.04415.

Some new CAT(0) free-by-cyclic groups

4:00-5:00PM

Rylee Lyman (Rutgers-Newark)

I will construct several infinite families of polynomially-growing automorphisms of free groups whose mapping tori are CAT(0) free-by-cyclic groups. Such mapping tori are thick, and thus not relatively hyperbolic. These are the first families comprising infinitely many examples for each rank of the nonabelian free group; they contrast strongly with Gersten's example of a thick free-by-cyclic group which cannot be a subgroup of a CAT(0) group.

 

Fri, 18 Jun 2021

13:00 - 13:30
Virtual

Homogenisation to Link Scales in Tendon Tissue Engineering

Amy Kent
(Mathematical Institute (University of Oxford))
Abstract

Tendon tissue engineering aims to grow functional tissue in the lab. Tissue is grown inside a bioreactor which controls both the mechanical and biochemical environment. As tendon cells alter their behaviour in response to mechanical stresses, designing suitable bioreactor loading regimes forms a key component in ensuring healthy tissue growth.  

Linking the forces imposed by the bioreactor to the shear stress experienced by individual cell is achieved by homogenisation using multiscale asymptotics. We will present a continuum model capturing fluid-structure interaction between the nutrient media and the fibrous scaffold where cells grow. Solutions reflecting different experimental conditions will be discussed in view of the implications for shear stress distribution experienced by cells across the bioreactor.  

Fri, 18 Jun 2021
12:45

Generalized entropy in topological string theory

Gabriel Wong
(Fudan University)
Abstract

The holographic entanglement entropy formula identifies the generalized entropy of the bulk AdS spacetime with the entanglement entropy of the boundary CFT. However the bulk microstate interpretation of the generalized entropy remains poorly understood. Progress along this direction requires understanding how to define Hilbert space factorization and entanglement entropy in the bulk closed string theory.   As a toy model for AdS/CFT, we study the entanglement entropy of closed strings in the topological A model, which enjoys a gauge-string duality.   We define a notion of generalized entropy for closed strings on the resolved conifold using the replica trick.   As in AdS/CFT, we find this is dual to (defect) entanglement entropy in the dual Chern Simons gauge theory.   Our main result is a bulk microstate interpretation of generalized entropy in terms of open strings and their edge modes, which we identify as entanglement branes.   

 

More precisely, we give a self consistent factorization of the closed string Hilbert space which introduces open string edge modes transforming under a q-deformed surface symmetry group. Compatibility with this symmetry requires a q-deformed definition of entanglement entropy. Using the topological vertex formalism, we define the Hartle Hawking state for the resolved conifold and compute its q-deformed entropy directly from the reduced density matrix.   We show that this is the same as the generalized entropy.   Finally, we relate non local aspects of our factorization map to analogous phenomenon recently found in JT gravity.

Thu, 17 Jun 2021

16:00 - 17:00

Identifiability in inverse stochastic optimal control

HAOYANG CAO
(Alan Turing Institute)
Abstract

Abstract: In this work, we analyze a class of stochastic inverse optimal control problems with entropy regularization. We first characterize the set of solutions for the inverse control problem. This solution set exemplifies the issue of degeneracy in generic inverse control problems that there exist multiple reward or cost functions that can explain the displayed optimal behavior. Then we establish one resolution for the degeneracy issue by providing one additional optimal policy under a different discount factor. This resolution does not depend on any prior knowledge of the solution set. Through a simple numerical experiment with deterministic transition kernel, we demonstrate the ability of accurately extracting the cost function through our proposed resolution.

 

Joint work with Sam Cohen (Oxford) and Lukasz Szpruch (Edinburgh).

Thu, 17 Jun 2021

14:00 - 15:00
Virtual

Wilson Loops, Cusps and Holography

Pietro Ferrero
(Mathematical Institute (University of Oxford))
Further Information

Contact organisers (Carmen Jorge-Diaz, Sujay Nair or Connor Behan) to obtain the link. 

Thu, 17 Jun 2021

14:00 - 15:00
Virtual

Primal-dual Newton methods, with application to viscous fluid dynamics

Georg Stadler
(New York University)
Abstract

I will discuss modified Newton methods for solving nonlinear systems of PDEs. These methods introduce additional variables before deriving the Newton linearization. These variables can then often be eliminated analytically before solving the Newton system, such that existing solvers can be adapted easily and the computational cost does not increase compared to a standard Newton method. The resulting algorithms yield favorable convergence properties. After illustrating the ideas on a simple example, I will show its application for the solution of incompressible Stokes flow problems with viscoplastic constitutive relation, where the additionally introduced variable is the stress tensor. These models are commonly used in earth science models. This is joint work with Johann Rudi (Argonne) and Melody Shih (NYU).

 

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Thu, 17 Jun 2021

13:00 - 14:00
Virtual

Modulation of synchronization in neural networks by a slowly varying ionic current

Sue Ann Campbell
(University of Waterloo)
Further Information

Synchronized activity of neurons is important for many aspects of brain function. Synchronization is affected by both network-level parameters, such as connectivity between neurons, and neuron-level parameters, such as firing rate. Many of these parameters are not static but may vary slowly in time. In this talk we focus on neuron-level parameters. Our work centres on the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which has been shown to modulate the firing properties of several types of neurons through its affect on potassium currents such as the muscarine-sensitive M-current.  In the brain, levels of acetylcholine change with activity.  For example, acetylcholine is higher during waking and REM sleep and lower during slow wave sleep. We will show how the M-current affects the bifurcation structure of a generic conductance-based neural model and how this determines synchronization properties of the model.  We then use phase-model analysis to study the effect of a slowly varying M-current on synchronization.  This is joint work with Victoria Booth, Xueying Wang and Isam Al-Darbasah.

Abstract

Synchronized activity of neurons is important for many aspects of brain function. Synchronization is affected by both network-level parameters, such as connectivity between neurons, and neuron-level parameters, such as firing rate. Many of these parameters are not static but may vary slowly in time. In this talk we focus on neuron-level parameters. Our work centres on the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which has been shown to modulate the firing properties of several types of neurons through its affect on potassium currents such as the muscarine-sensitive M-current.  In the brain, levels of acetylcholine change with activity.  For example, acetylcholine is higher during waking and REM sleep and lower during slow wave sleep. We will show how the M-current affects the bifurcation structure of a generic conductance-based neural model and how this determines synchronization properties of the model.  We then use phase-model analysis to study the effect of a slowly varying M-current on synchronization.  This is joint work with Victoria Booth, Xueying Wang and Isam Al-Darbasah

Thu, 17 Jun 2021

12:00 - 13:00
Virtual

Willmore Surfaces: Min-Max and Morse Index

Alexis Michelat
(University of Oxford)
Further Information

A link for this talk will be sent to our mailing list a day or two in advance.  If you are not on the list and wish to be sent a link, please contact Benjamin Fehrman.

Abstract

The integral of mean curvature squared is a conformal invariant that measures the distance from a given immersion to the standard embedding of a round sphere. Following work of Robert Bryant who showed that all Willmore spheres in the 3-sphere are conformally minimal, Robert Kusner proposed in the early 1980s to use the Willmore energy to obtain an “optimal” sphere eversion, called the min-max sphere eversion.

We will present a method due to Tristan Rivière that permits to tackle a wide variety of min-max problems, including ones about the Willmore energy. An important step to solve Kusner’s conjecture is to determine the Morse index of branched Willmore spheres, and we show that the Morse index of conformally minimal branched Willmore spheres is equal to the index of a canonically associated matrix whose dimension is equal to the number of ends of the dual minimal surface.

Thu, 17 Jun 2021
11:30
Virtual

Compressible types in NIP theories

Itay Kaplan
(The Hebrew University of Jerusalem)
Abstract

I will discuss compressible types and relate them to uniform definability of types over finite sets (UDTFS), to uniformity of honest definitions and to the construction of compressible models in the context of (local) NIP. All notions will be defined during the talk.
Joint with Martin Bays and Pierre Simon.

Thu, 17 Jun 2021
10:00
Virtual

Systolic Complexes and Group Presentations

Mireille Soergel
(Université de Bourgogne)
Abstract

We introduce the notion of systolic complexes and give conditions on presentations to construct such complexes using Cayley graphs.

We consider Garside groups to find examples of groups admitting such a presentation.
 

Wed, 16 Jun 2021

16:30 - 18:00

Some recent results on Structural Reflection

Joan Bagaria
(ICREA and University of Barcelona)
Abstract

The general Structural Reflection (SR) principle asserts that for every definable, in the first-order language of set theory, possibly with parameters, class $\mathcal{C}$ of relational structures of the same type there exists an ordinal $\alpha$ that reflects $\mathcal{C}$, i.e.,  for every $A$ in $\mathcal{C}$ there exists $B$ in $\mathcal{C}\cap V_\alpha$ and an elementary embedding from $B$ into $A$. In this form, SR is equivalent to Vopenka’s Principle (VP). In my talk I will present some different natural variants of SR which are equivalent to the existence some well-known large cardinals weaker than VP. I will also consider some forms of SR, reminiscent of Chang’s Conjecture, which imply the existence of large cardinal principles stronger than VP, at the level of rank-into-rank embeddings and beyond. The latter is a joint work with Philipp Lücke.

Tue, 15 Jun 2021

15:30 - 16:30
Virtual

Are random matrix models useful in biological systems?

Jon Pitchford
(University of York)
Abstract

For five decades, mathematicians have exploited the beauties of random matrix theory (RMT) in the hope of discovering principles which govern complex ecosystems. While RMT lies at the heart of the ideas, their translation toward biological reality requires some heavy lifting: dynamical systems theory, statistics, and large-scale computations are involved, and any predictions should be challenged with empirical data. This can become very awkward.

In addition to a morose journey through some of my personal failures to make RMT meet reality, I will try to sketch out some more constructive future perspectives. In particular, new methods for microbial community composition, dynamics and evolution might allow us to apply RMT ideas to the treatment of cystic fibrosis. In addition, in fisheries I will argue that sometimes the very absence of an empirical dataset can add to the practical value of models as tools to influence policy.

 

Tue, 15 Jun 2021
14:30
Virtual

Numerical Relativity

Katy Clough
(Department of Physics)
Abstract

Numerical relativity allows us to simulate the behaviour of regions of space and time where gravity is strong and dynamical. For example, it allows us to calculate precisely the gravitational waveform that should be generated by the merger of two inspiralling black holes. Since the first detection of gravitational waves from such an event in 2015, banks of numerical relativity “templates” have been used to extract further information from noisy data streams. In this talk I will give an overview of the field - what are we simulating, why, and what are the main challenges, past and future.

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A link for this talk will be sent to our mailing list a day or two in advance.  If you are not on the list and wish to be sent a link, please contact @email.

Tue, 15 Jun 2021
14:15
Virtual

Harish-Chandra Lefschetz principle for branching laws of general linear groups

Kei Yuen Chan
(Fudan University)
Abstract

The Harish-Chandra Lefschetz principle asserts representation theory for real groups, p-adic groups and automorphic forms should be placed on an equal footing. A particular example in this aspect is that Ciubotaru and Trapa constructed Arakawa-Suzuki type functors between category of Harish-Chandra modules and category of graded Hecke algebra modules, giving an explicit connection on the representation categories between p-adic and real sides. 

This talk plans to begin with comparing the representation theory between real and p-adic general linear groups, such as unitary and unipotent representations. Then I shall explain results in more details on the p-adic branching law from GL(n+1) to GL(n), including branching laws for Arthur type representations (one of the non-tempered Gan-Gross-Prasad conjectures). The analogous results and predictions on the real group side will also be discussed. Time permitting, I will explain a notion of left-right Bernstein-Zelevinsky derivatives and its applications on branching laws.
 

Tue, 15 Jun 2021

14:00 - 15:00
Virtual

A generative model for reciprocity and community detection in networks

Caterina De Bacco
(Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems)
Abstract

We present a probabilistic generative model and efficient algorithm to model reciprocity in directed networks. Unlike other methods that address this problem such as exponential random graphs, it assigns latent variables as community memberships to nodes and a reciprocity parameter to the whole network rather than fitting order statistics. It formalizes the assumption that a directed interaction is more likely to occur if an individual has already observed an interaction towards her. It provides a natural framework for relaxing the common assumption in network generative models of conditional independence between edges, and it can be used to perform inference tasks such as predicting the existence of an edge given the observation of an edge in the reverse direction. Inference is performed using an efficient expectation-maximization algorithm that exploits the sparsity of the network, leading to an efficient and scalable implementation. We illustrate these findings by analyzing synthetic and real data, including social networks, academic citations and the Erasmus student exchange program. Our method outperforms others in both predicting edges and generating networks that reflect the reciprocity values observed in real data, while at the same time inferring an underlying community structure. We provide an open-source implementation of the code online.

arXiv link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2012.08215