Past

Professor Ana Djurdjevac will talk about; 'The Dean–Kawasaki Equation: Theory, Numerics, and Applications'

The Dean–Kawasaki equation provides a stochastic partial differential equation description of interacting particle systems at the level of empirical densities and has attracted considerable interest in statistical physics, stochastic analysis, and applied modeling. In this work, we study analytical and numerical aspects of the Dean–Kawasaki equation, with a particular focus on well-posedness, structure preservation, and possible discretization strategies. In addition, we extend the framework to the Dean–Kawasaki equation posed on smooth hypersurfaces. We discuss applications of the Dean–Kawasaki framework to particle-based models arising in biological systems and modeling social dynamics.

The canonical example of AdS/CFT relates N=4 SYM in 4d to supergravity on AdS5 x S5 by considering a stack of D3-branes. A natural question then emerges: what about considering other Dp-branes? The worldvolume theory is again SYM but is not conformal anymore, while the supergravity dual is now only conformally AdS. Despite these differences, some control remains, and some inspiration from the p=3 case can be sought. In this talk, I will review this setup and discuss the recent results of [2503.18770] and [2503.14685] regarding the computation of correlation functions.

Irina-Beatrice Haas will talk about; 'Sharp error bounds for approximate eigenvalues and singular values from subspace methods'
 

Subspace methods are commonly used for finding approximate eigenvalues and singular values of large-scale matrices. Once a subspace is found, the Rayleigh-Ritz method (for symmetric eigenvalue problems) and Petrov-Galerkin projection (for singular values) are the de facto method for extraction of eigenvalues and singular values. In this work we derive error bounds for approximate eigenvalues obtained via the Rayleigh-Ritz process. Our bounds are quadratic in the residual corresponding to each Ritz value while also being robust to clustered Ritz values, which is a key improvement over existing results. We apply these bounds to several methods for computing eigenvalues and singular values, including Krylov methods and randomized algorithms.

The mitigation of bacterial adhesion to surfaces and subsequent biofilm formation is a key challenge in healthcare and manufacturing processes. To accurately predict biofilm formation you must determine how changes to bacteria behaviours and dynamics alter their ability to adhere to surfaces. In this talk, I will present a framework for incorporating microscale behaviour into continuum models using techniques from statistical mechanics at the microscale combined with boundary-layer theory at the macroscale.

We will examine the flow of a dilute suspension of motile bacteria over a flat absorbing surface, developing an effective model for the bacteria density near the boundary inspired by the classical Lévêque boundary layer problem. We use our effective model to derive analytical solutions for the bacterial adhesion rate as a function of fluid shear rate and individual motility parameters of the bacteria, validating against stochastic numerical simulations of individual bacteria. We find that bacterial adhesion is greatest at intermediate flow rates, since at higher flow rates shear-induced upstream swimming limits adhesion.

A 3-manifold is a space which locally looks like R^3. A major theme in 3-manifold Topology is to understand and classify 3-manifolds. Given two compact 3-manifolds M_1,M_2 we can form another 3-manifold by taking what’s called the “connect sum” of M_1 and M_2. Under this operation, 3-manifolds can be decomposed uniquely into prime pieces just like the integers can be decomposed uniquely as a product of primes. We will discuss this prime decomposition theorem for 3-manifolds while also giving a wide variety of examples.

I will discuss old and new results about the distribution of zeros of modular forms, and relation to Quantum Unique Ergodicity. It is known that a modular form of weight k has about k/12 zeros in the fundamental domain . A classical question in the analytic theory of modular forms is “can we locate the zeros of a distinguished family of modular forms?”. In 1970, F. Rankin and Swinnerton-Dyer proved that the zeros of the Eisenstein series all lie on the circular part of the boundary of the fundamental domain. In the beginning of this century, I discovered that for cuspidal Hecke eigenforms, the picture is very different - the zeros are not localized, and in fact become uniformly distributed in the fundamental domain. Very recently, we have investigated other families of modular forms, such as the Miller basis (ZR 2024, Roei Raveh 2025, Adi Zilka 2026), Poincare series (RA Rankin 1982, Noam Kimmel 2025) and theta functions (Roei Raveh 2026),  finding a variety of possible distributions of the zeroes.

I will discuss old and new results about the distribution of zeros of modular forms, and relation to Quantum Unique Ergodicity. It is known that a modular form of weight k has about k/12 zeros in the fundamental domain . A classical question in the analytic theory of modular forms is “can we locate the zeros of a distinguished family of modular forms?”. In 1970, F. Rankin and Swinnerton-Dyer proved that the zeros of the Eisenstein series all lie on the circular part of the boundary of the fundamental domain. In the beginning of this century, I discovered that for cuspidal Hecke eigenforms, the picture is very different - the zeros are not localized, and in fact become uniformly distributed in the fundamental domain. Very recently, we have investigated other families of modular forms, such as the Miller basis (ZR 2024, Roei Raveh 2025, Adi Zilka 2026), Poincare series (RA Rankin 1982, Noam Kimmel 2025) and theta functions (Roei Raveh 2026),  finding a variety of possible distributions of the zeroes.

(Joint seminar with Random Matrix Theory)

Join us to discuss x+y: A Mathematician’s Manifesto for Rethinking Gender by Eugenia Cheng.

In this talk from Alexander Ravnanger, he provides a dynamical description of the largest AF-ideal in certain crossed products by the integers. In the case of the uniform Roe algebra of the integers, this reveals an interesting connection to a well-studied object in topological semigroup theory. On the way, he gives an overview of what is known about the abundance of projections in such crossed products, the structure of the simple quotients, and concepts of low-dimensionality for uniform Roe algebras.

The capacity of a set is a classical notion in potential theory and it is a measure of the size of a set as seen by a random walk or Brownian motion. Recently Zhu defined the notion of branching capacity as the analogue of capacity in the context of a branching random walk. In this talk I will describe joint work with Amine Asselah and Bruno Schapira where we introduce a notion of capacity of a set for critical bond percolation and I will explain how it shares similar properties as in the case of branching random walks. 

In this talk, I will introduce the nilpotent cohomological Hall algebra COHA(S, Z) of coherent sheaves on a smooth quasi-projective complex surface S that are set-theoretically supported on a closed subscheme Z. This algebra can be viewed as the "largest" algebra of cohomological Hecke operators associated with modifications along a subscheme Z of S. When S is the minimal resolution of an ADE singularity and Z is the exceptional divisor, I will describe how to characterize COHA(S, Z) in terms of the Yangian of the corresponding affine ADE quiver Q (based on joint work with Emanuel Diaconescu, Mauro Porta, Oliver Schiffmann, and Eric Vasserot, arXiv:2502.19445). More generally, I will discuss nilpotent COHAs arising from Bridgeland stability conditions on the bounded derived category of nilpotent representations of the preprojective algebra of Q, following joint work with Olivier Schiffmann and Parth Shimpi (arXiv:2511.08576).

For a tree $T$ whose bipartition classes have sizes $t_1 \ge t_2$, two simple constructions shows that the Ramsey number of $T$ is at least $\max\{t_1+2t_2,2t_1\}-1$. In 1974, Burr conjectured that equality holds for every tree. It turns out that Burr’s conjecture is false for certain trees called the double stars, though all of the known counterexamples have large maximum degrees. In 2002, Haxell, Łuczak, and Tingley showed that Burr’s conjecture is approximately true if one imposes a maximum degree condition.

We show that Burr’s conjecture holds for all trees with up to small linear maximum degrees. That is, there exists $c>0$ such that for every $n$-vertex tree $T$ with maximum degree at most $cn$ and bipartition class sizes $t_1\ge t_2$, its Ramsey number $R(T)$ is exactly $\max\{t_1+2t_2,2t_1\}-1$. We also generalise this result to determine the exact asymmetric Ramsey number $R(T,S)$ of two trees $T$ and $S$ under certain additional conditions, and construct examples showing that these conditions are necessary. 

This talk is based on joint work with Richard Montgomery and Matías Pavez-Signé.

Persistent homology (PH) is an operation which, loosely speaking, describes the different holes in a point cloud via a collection of intervals called a barcode. The two most frequently used variants of persistent homology for point clouds are called Čech PH and Vietoris-Rips PH. How much information is lost when we apply these kinds of PH to a point cloud? We investigate this question by studying the subspace of point clouds with the same barcodes under these operations. We establish upper and lower bounds on the dimension of this space, and find that the question of when the persistence map is identifiable has close ties to rigidity theory. For example, we show that a generic point cloud being locally identifiable under Vietoris-Rips persistence is equivalent to a certain graph being rigid on the same point cloud.

Let G be a connected reductive group defined over a non-Archimedean local field k. Endow G with a k-involution and take H to be the fixed-point subgroup in G of that involution. In this talk I will report on some of my recent results regarding Chabauty limits of H(k) inside G(k). Although the results are similar to the real and complex cases, the techniques are totally different and with a strong geometric flavor. Some of the main actors are the Bruhat—Tits building associated with G(k) and basic methods from CAT(0) geometry.

In this talk, I will examine the dynamics of the fermion–rotor system, originally introduced by Polchinski as a toy model for monopole–fermion scattering. Despite its simplicity, the system is surprisingly subtle, with ingoing and outgoing fermion fields carrying different quantum numbers. I will show that the rotor acts as a twist operator in the low-energy theory, changing the quantum numbers of excitations that have previously passed through the origin to ensure scattering consistent with all symmetries, thereby resolving the long-standing Unitarity puzzle. I will then discuss generalizations of this setup with multiple rotors and unequal charges, and demonstrate how the system can be viewed as a UV-completion of boundary states for chiral theories, establishing a connection to the proposed resolution of the puzzle using boundary conformal field theory.

As temperatures are increasing, so is the presence of meltwater lakes sitting on the surface of the Greenland Ice Sheet. Such lakes have the possibility of draining through cracks in the ice to the bedrock. Observed discharge rates have found that these lakes can drain at three times the flow rate of Niagara Falls. Current models of subglacial drainage systems are unable to cope with such a large and sudden volume of water. This motivates the idea of a 'subglacial blister' which propagates and slowly dissipates underneath the ice sheet. We present a basic hydrofracture model for understanding this process, before carrying out a number of extensions to observe the effects of turbulence, topography, leak-off and finite ice thickness.

We study a very general class of first-order linear hyperbolic
systems that both become weakly hyperbolic and contain singular
lower-order coefficients at a single time t = 0. In "critical" weakly
hyperbolic settings, it is well-known that solutions lose a finite
amount of regularity at t = 0. Here, we both improve upon the analysis
in the weakly hyperbolic setting, and we extend this analysis to systems
containing critically singular coefficients, which may also exhibit
modified asymptotics and regularity loss at t = 0.

In particular, we give precise quantifications for (1) the asymptotics
of solutions as t approaches 0, (2) the scattering problem of solving
the system with asymptotic data at t = 0, and (3) the loss of regularity
due to the degeneracies at t = 0. Finally, we discuss a wide range of
applications for these results, including weakly hyperbolic wave
equations (and equations of higher order), as well as equations arising
from relativity and cosmology (e.g. at big bang singularities).

This is joint work with Bolys Sabitbek (Ghent).

Recurrence is central in ergodic Ramsey theory, and its multiplicative analogue is only now emerging. In this talk, I will define multiplicative recurrence, give illustrative examples, and explain how pretentious number theory is applied to establish it.

I will report on work joint with Florian Naef in which we produce, for a map f of spaces over a space B such that f has compact fibers, a rational model for the fiberwise transfer of fiberwise topological Hochschild homology, considered as a map of parametrized spectra over B. This is motivated by applications to moduli spaces of manifolds: in particular we can detect the vanishing of certain cohomology classes originating from a graph complex via the classifying space of homotopy automorphisms.
 

We study a prototypical geometric wave equation, given by wave maps from the Minkowski space R 1+d into the sphere S d , under the influence of additive stochastic forcing, in all energy-supercritical dimensions d ≥ 3. In the deterministic setting, self-similar finite-time blowup is expected for large data, but remains open beyond perturbative regimes. We show that adding a non-degenerate Gaussian noise provokes finite-time blowup with positive probability for arbitrary initial data. Moreover, the blowup is governed by the explicit self-similar profile originally identified in the deterministic theory. Our approach combines local well-posedness for stochastic wave equations, a Da Prato-Debussche decomposition, and a stability analysis in self-similar variables. The result corroborates the conjecture that the self-similar blowup mechanism is robust and represents the generic large-data behavior in the deterministic problem.

This is joint work with M. Hofmanova and E. Luongo (Bielefeld)

In this talk, I will present a result proved in my recent paper arXiv:2502.13580. I will discuss biharmonic maps between (and submanifolds of) conformally compact manifolds, a large class of complete manifolds generalizing hyperbolic space. After an introduction to conformally compact geometry, I will discuss one of the main results of the paper: if S is a properly embedded sub-manifold of a conformally compact manifold (N,h), and moreover S is transverse to the boundary and (N,h) has non-positive curvature, then S must be minimal. This result confirms a conjecture known as the Generalized Chen’s Conjecture, in the conformally compact context.

Speaker Lucas Theis will talk about: 'What makes an image realistic ?'

The last decade has seen tremendous progress in our ability to generate realistic-looking data, be it images, text, audio, or video. 
In this presentation, we will look at the closely related problem of quantifying realism, that is, designing functions that can reliably tell realistic data from unrealistic data. This problem turns out to be significantly harder to solve and remains poorly understood, despite its prevalence in machine learning and recent breakthroughs in generative AI. Drawing on insights from algorithmic information theory, we discuss why this problem is challenging, why a good generative model alone is insufficient to solve it, and what a good solution would look like. In particular, we introduce the notion of a universal critic, which unlike adversarial critics does not require adversarial training. While universal critics are not immediately practical, they can serve both as a North Star for guiding practical implementations and as a tool for analyzing existing attempts to capture realism.

Session to be run by Five Rings

Calculus and geometry are ubiquitous in the theoretical modelling of scientific phenomena, but have historically been very challenging to apply directly to real data as statistics. Diffusion geometry is a new theory that reformulates classical calculus and geometry in terms of a diffusion process, allowing these theories to generalise beyond manifolds and be computed from data. In this talk, I will describe a new, simple computational framework for diffusion geometry that substantially broadens its practical scope and improves its precision, robustness to noise, and computational complexity. We present a range of new computational methods, including all the standard objects from vector calculus and Riemannian geometry, and apply them to solve spatial PDEs and vector field flows, find geodesic (intrinsic) distances, curvature, and several new topological tools like de Rham cohomology, circular coordinates, and Morse theory. These methods are data-driven, scalable, and can exploit highly optimised numerical tools for linear algebra.

Dr Jenny Power (Heriot-Watt University) will share some of the personal and unexpected lessons she learnt while completing her PhD. We’ll then discuss how a “perfect PhD student” doesn’t exist!

Bring interesting problems (relating to your research or otherwise) for a unique brainstorming session

Certain models of collective dynamics exhibit deceptively simple patterns that are surprisingly difficult to explain. These patterns often arise from phase transitions within the underlying dynamics. However, these phase transitions can be explained only when one derives continuum equations from the corresponding individual-based models. In this talk, I will explore this subtle yet rich phenomenon and discuss advances and open problems.

I will present new results, joint with Krzysztof Klosin (CUNY), on the modularity of residually reducible Galois representations with 3 residual pieces. This will be applied to prove the p-adic modularity of Picard curves.

Speaker Estefania Loayza Romero will talk about:  A Riemannian Approach for PDE-Constrained Shape Optimization Using Outer Metrics

In PDE-constrained shape optimisation, shapes are traditionally viewed as elements of a Riemannian manifold, specifically as embeddings of the unit circle into the plane, modulo reparameterizations. The standard approach employs the Steklov-Poincaré metric to compute gradients for Riemannian optimisation methods. A significant limitation of current methods is the absence of explicit expressions for the geodesic equations associated with this metric. Consequently, algorithms have relied on retractions (often equivalent to the perturbation of identity method in shape optimisation) rather than true geodesic paths. Previous research suggests that incorporating geodesic equations, or better approximations thereof, can substantially enhance algorithmic performance. This talk presents numerical evidence demonstrating that using outer metrics, defined on the space of diffeomorphisms with known geodesic expressions, improves Riemannian gradient-based optimisation by significantly reducing the number of required iterations and preserving mesh quality throughout the optimisation process.

This talk is hosted at RAL. 

For this JC, I will review the recently much debated puzzles that arise in holographic systems with baby universes. After describing the original set-up of Antonini-Sasieta-Swingle, I will explain the paradox raised by Antonini-Rath, which suggests the existence of a single CFT state that can have two distinct holographic descriptions in the bulk: one with a closed baby universe and one without. I will discuss various proposed resolutions of this puzzle, which may (or may not) require us to rethink the holographic dictionary in AdS/CFT.

We study two-dimensional characteristic free-boundary problems in ideal compressible magnetohydrodynamics. For current-vortex sheets, surface-wave effects yield derivative loss and only weak (neutral) stability; under a sufficient stability condition on the background state we obtain anisotropic weighted Sobolev energy estimates and prove local-in-time existence and nonlinear stability via a Nash-Moser scheme, confirming stabilization by strong magnetic fields against Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. For the plasma-vacuum interface, coupling hyperbolic MHD with elliptic pre-Maxwell dynamics, we establish local existence and uniqueness provided at least one magnetic field is nonzero along the initial interface.

Dr Jari Fowkes will talk about; 'A Very Short Introduction to Ptychographic Image Reconstruction'

I will present a very short introduction to the mathematics behind the scientific imaging technique known as ptychography, starting with a brief overview of the physics model and the various simplifications required, before moving on to the main ptychography inverse problem and the three principal classes of optimization algorithms currently being used in practice. 

Fracture is usually treated as an outcome to be avoided; here we see it as something we may write into a lattice's microstructure. Maxwell lattices sit at the edge of mechanical stability, where robust topological properties provide a way on how stress localises and delocalises across the structure with directional preference. Building on this, we propose a direct relationship between lattice topology and damage propagation. We identify a set of topology- and geometry-dependent parameters that gives a simple, predictive framework for nonideal Maxwell lattices and their damage processes. We will discuss how topological polarisation and domain walls steer and arrest damage in a repeatable way. Experiments confirm the theoretical predicted localisation and the resulting tuneable progression of damage and show how this control mechanism can be used to enhance dissipation and raise the apparent fracture energy.

The restricted Burnside problem asks whether, for each natural numbers r and n, there are only finitely many finite r-generated groups of exponent n. The solution of this problem was given by Kostrikin in the 1960s for prime exponent, then by Efim Zelmanov in 1991, for which he was awarded the Fields medal in 1994. In fact, both Kostrikin and Zelmanov results concern Lie algebras, and are a perfect illustration of Lie methods in group theory: how to reduce questions on groups to questions on Lie algebras. Starting from a finitely generated group, one may construct an "associated Lie algebra" which, for the case of exponent p, is n-Engel, i.e. satisfies the n-Engel identity: [x,y,y,...,y] = 0 (n times). For that case, the restricted Burnside problem reduces to proving that every finitely generated n-Engel Lie algebra is nilpotent.

In 1988, Zelmanov proved the ultimate generalization of Engel's classical result: every n-Engel Lie algebra over a field of characteristic 0 is nilpotent. This theorem has the following consequence: for every n there exists N such that every n-Engel Lie algebra of characteristic p>N is nilpotent. It also has consequences for Engel groups.

The proof is rather involved and consists mainly of some intense Lie algebra computations, sprinkled with several beautiful tricks. In particular, the surprising use of the representation theory of the symmetric group has inspired several other authors since then.

In this talk, I will present a little bit of all this. For instance, we will study the case of 3-Engel Lie algebras and I will explain how some part of Zelmanov's proof was re-used by Vaughan-Lee and Traustason to reduce the algorithmic complexity of computing in 4-Engel Lie algebras.

Dimension 4 is the first dimension in which exotic smooth manifold pairs appear — manifolds which are topologically the same but for which there is no smooth deformation of one into the other. On the other hand, smooth and PL manifolds (manifolds which can be described discretely) do coincide in dimension 4. Despite this, there has been comparatively little work done towards gaining an understanding of smooth 4-manifolds from the discrete and algorithmic perspective. The aim of this talk will be to give a gentle introduction to some of the tools, techniques, and ideas, which inform a computational approach to 4-manifold topology.

First introduced by Fomin and Zelevinsky, cluster algebras are commutative rings that have many combinatorial properties. They have had many applications to both mathematics and physics. In this talk, I will first introduce cluster algebras and explore some of their properties. I will then move on to their applications, starting with dilogarithm identities and then moving to integrable systems and the thermodynamic Bethe ansatz (TBA). Time permitting, I will connect some of these ideas to the ODE/IM correspondence. 

Recently, a close parallel emerged between conformal field theory in general dimension and the theory of automorphic forms. I will review this connection and explain how it can be leveraged to make rigorous progress on central open problems of number theory, using methods borrowed from the conformal bootstrap. In particular, I will use the crossing equation to prove new subconvex bounds on L-functions. Based on work with Adve, Bonifacio, Kravchuk, Pal, Radcliffe, and Rogelberg: https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.20576.

In 1962, Horn raised the following problem: Let A and B be n-by-n Hermitian matrices with respective eigenvalues a_1,...,a_n and b_1,...,b_n. What can we say about the possible eigenvalues c_1,...,c_n of A + B?

The deterministic perspective is that the set of possible values for c_1,...,c_n are described by a collection of inequalities known as the Horn inequalities.

Free probability offers the following alternative perspective on the problem: if (A_n) and (B_n) are independent sequences of n-by-n random matrices with empirical spectra converging to probability measures mu and nu respectively, then the random empirical spectrum of A_n + B_n converges to the free convolution of mu and nu.

But how are these two perspectives related?

In this talk Samuel Johnston will discuss approaches to free probability that bridge between the two perspectives. More broadly, Samuel will discuss how the fundamental operations of free probability (such as free convolution and free compression) arise out of statistical physics mechanics of corresponding finite representation theory objects (hives, Gelfand-Tsetlin patterns, characteristic polynomials, Horn inequalities, permutations etc).

This talk is based on joint work with Octavio Arizmendi (CIMAT, Mexico), Colin McSWiggen (Academia Sinica, Taiwan) and Joscha Prochno (Passau, Germany).

In this talk I will describe how bornological spaces give a foundation for derived geometries. This works over any Banach ring allowing to define analytic and differential geometry over the integers. I will discuss applications of this approach such as the representability of certain moduli spaces and Galois actions on the cohomology of differetiable manifolds admitting a \Q-form.

It is a classical result that a random permutation of $n$ elements has, on average, about $\log n$ cycles. We generalise this fact to all directed $d$-regular graphs on $n$ vertices by showing that, on average, a random cycle-factor of such a graph has $\mathcal{O}((n\log d)/d)$ cycles. This is tight up to the constant factor and improves the best previous bound of the form $\mathcal{O}({n/\sqrt{\log d}})$ due to Vishnoi. It also yields randomised polynomial-time algorithms for finding such a cycle-factor and for finding a tour of length $(1+\mathcal{O}((\log d)/d)) \cdot n$ if the graph is connected. The latter result makes progress on a restriction of the Traveling Salesman Problem to regular graphs, a problem studied by Vishnoi and by Feige, Ravi, and Singh. Our proof uses the language of entropy to exploit the fact that the upper and lower bounds on the number of perfect matchings in regular bipartite graphs are extremely close.

This talk is based on joint work with Micha Christoph, Nemanja Draganić, António Girão, Eoin Hurley, and Alp Müyesser.

Partition diversity refers to the concept that for some networks there may be multiple, similarly plausible ways to group the nodes, rather than one single best partition. In this talk, I will present two projects that address this idea from different but complementary angles. The first introduces the benchmark stochastic cross-block model (SCBM), a generative model designed to create synthetic networks with two distinct 'ground-truth' partitions. This allows us to study the extent to which existing methods for partition detection are able to reveal the coexistence of multiple underlying structures. The second project builds on this benchmark and paves the way for a Bayesian inference framework to directly detect coexisting partitions in empirical networks. By formulating this model as a microcanonical variant of the SCBM, we can evaluate how well it fits a given network compared to existing models. We find that our method more reliably detects partition diversity in synthetic networks with planted coexisting partitions, compared to methods designed to detect a single optimal partition. Together, the two projects contribute to a broader understanding of partition diversity by offering tools to explore the ambiguity of network structure.

In the talk, I'll first describe a more general context of Sárközy-type problems and interesting directions in which they can be pursued. Then, I'll focus on the specific case of bounding the size of sets A s. t. A - A + 1 contains no prime. After describing the progress on the problem for integers, I'll pass on to considering an analogous question for function fields and (after a general introduction to function fields) I'll speak about my recent result in this area.