Tue, 25 Feb 2014

15:45 - 16:45
L4

Buildings, Spectral Networks, and the Asymptotics of Monodromy

Pranav Pandit
(Vienna)
Abstract

The talk will focus on how the asymptotic behavior of the Riemann-Hilbert correspondence (and, conjecturally, the non-abelian Hodge correspondence) on a Riemann surface is controlled by certain harmonic maps from the Riemann surface to affine buildings. This is part of joint work with Katzarkov, Noll and Simpson, which revisits, from the perspective afforded by the theory of harmonic maps to buildings, the work of Gaiotto, Moore and Neitzke on spectral networks, WKB problems, BPS states and wall-crossing.

Tue, 25 Feb 2014
15:30
Comlab

"Electrical circuits and signal flow diagrams"

John Baez
(University of California)
Abstract

Nature and the world of human technology are full of
networks. People like to draw diagrams of networks: flow charts,
electrical circuit diagrams, signal flow diagrams, Bayesian networks,
Feynman diagrams and the like. Mathematically-minded people know that
in principle these diagrams fit into a common framework: category
theory. But we are still far from a unified theory of networks.

Tue, 25 Feb 2014

14:30 - 15:00
L5

Combining radial basis functions with the partition-of-unity method for numerically solving PDEs on the sphere

Grady Wright
(Boise State University)
Abstract

We discuss a new collocation-type method for numerically solving partial differential equations (PDEs) on the sphere.  The method uses radial basis function (RBF) approximations in a partition of unity framework for approximating spatial derivatives on the sphere.  High-orders of accuracy are achieved for smooth solutions, while the overall computational cost of the method scales linearly with the number of unknowns.  The discussion will be primarily limited to the transport equation and results will be presented for a few well-known test cases.  We conclude with a preliminary application to the non-linear shallow water wave equations on a rotating sphere.

Tue, 25 Feb 2014

14:30 - 15:30
L6

Randomly Colouring Random Graphs

Alan Frieze
(CMU)
Abstract

We discuss some questions related to coloring the edge/vertices of randomgraphs. In particular we look at
(i) The game chromatic number;
(ii) Rainbow Matchings and Hamilton cycles;
(iii) Rainbow Connection;
(iv) Zebraic Colorings.

Tue, 25 Feb 2014

14:00 - 15:00
L4

(n+ε)-dimensional TQFTs and a higher dimensional Deligne conjecture

Kevin Walker
(Santa Barbara)
Abstract

The classical Deligne conjecture (now a theorem with several published proofs) says that chains on the little disks operad act on Hochschild cohomology.  I'll describe a higher dimensional generalization of this result.  In fact, even in the dimension of the original Deligne conjecture the generalization has something new to say:  Hochschild chains and Hochschild cochains are the first two members of an infinite family of chain complexes associated to an arbitrary associative algebra, and there is a colored, higher genus operad which acts on these chain complexes.  The Connes differential and Gerstenhaber bracket are two of the simplest generators of the homology of this operad, and I'll show that there exist additional, independent generators.  These new generators are close cousins of Connes and Gerstenhaber which, so far as I can tell, have not been described in the literature.

Tue, 25 Feb 2014

14:00 - 14:30
L5

Polynomials orthogonal with respect to oscillatory weights

Andreas Asheim
(DAMPT, University of Cambridge)
Abstract

The classical theory of Gaussian quadrature assumes a positive weight function. This implies many desirable properties of the rule: Guaranteed existence and uniqueness of the orthogonal polynomials whose zeros are the nodes of the rule, nodes that are contained in the interval of integration, as well as positive quadrature weights, which implies that the rule is stable. There has been little research on polynomials that are orthogonal with respect to non-positive weight functions, although these could be interesting for, for example, oscillatory quadrature problems. In this talk I will present some of the few results we have on this, as well as some weird and wonderful conjectures.
 
Tue, 25 Feb 2014

13:15 - 14:00
C4

Onset of menisci

Doireann O'Kiely
(OCIAM)
Abstract

A solid object placed at a liquid-gas interface causes the formation of a meniscus around it. In the case of a vertical circular cylinder, the final state of the static meniscus is well understood, from both experimental and theoretical viewpoints. Experimental investigations suggest the presence of two different power laws in the growth of the meniscus. In this talk I will introduce a theoretical model for the dynamics and show that the early-time growth of the meniscus is self-similar, in agreement with one of the experimental predictions. I will also discuss the use of a numerical solution to investigate the validity of the second power law.

Mon, 24 Feb 2014

17:00 - 18:00
L6

On the low weissenberg limit for non-newtonian flows

Didier Bresch
(Universite Savoie)
Abstract

In this talk, we will discuss low Weissenberg number

effects on mathematical properties of solutions for several PDEs

governing different viscoelastic fluids.

Mon, 24 Feb 2014

16:00 - 17:00
C5

Solving equations

Bryan Birch
(Oxford University)
Mon, 24 Feb 2014

15:45 - 16:45
Eagle House

Constrained rough paths

THOMAS CASS
(Imperial College London)
Abstract

I present some recent work with Bruce Driver and Christian Litterer on rough paths 'constrained’ to lie in a d - dimensional submanifold of a Euclidean space E. We will present a natural definition for this class of rough paths and then describe the (second) order geometric calculus which arises out of this definition. The talk will conclude with more advanced applications, including a rough version of Cartan’s development map.

Mon, 24 Feb 2014

15:30 - 16:30

Operads and the Tree of Life

John Baez
(UC Riverside)
Abstract

Trees are not just combinatorial structures: they are also

biological structures, both in the obvious way but also in the

study of evolution. Starting from DNA samples from living

species, biologists use increasingly sophisticated mathematical

techniques to reconstruct the most likely “phylogenetic tree”

describing how these species evolved from earlier ones. In their

work on this subject, they have encountered an interesting

example of an operad, which is obtained by applying a variant of

the Boardmann–Vogt “W construction” to the operad for

commutative monoids. The operations in this operad are labelled

trees of a certain sort, and it plays a universal role in the

study of stochastic processes that involve branching. It also

shows up in tropical algebra. This talk is based on work in

progress with Nina Otter [www.fair-fish.ch].

Mon, 24 Feb 2014

14:15 - 15:15
Eagle House

The splitting method for SPDEs: from robustness to applications in financial engineering, nonlinear filtering and optimal control

HARALD OBERHAUSER
(University of Oxford)
Abstract

The splitting-up method is a powerful tool to solve (SP)DEs by dividing the equation into a set of simpler equations that are easier to handle. I will speak about how such splitting schemes can be derived and extended by insights from the theory of rough paths.

Finally, I will discuss numerics for real-world applications that appear in the management of risk and engineering applications like nonlinear filtering.

Mon, 24 Feb 2014
14:00
C6

Elementary submodels in topology

Richard Lupton
(Oxford)
Abstract

We explore the technique of elementary submodels to prove 
results in topology and set theory. We will in particular prove the 
delta system lemma, and Arhangelskii's result that a first countable 
Lindelof space has cardinality not exceeding continuum.

Mon, 24 Feb 2014

12:00 - 13:00
L5

World-Sheet Form Factors in AdS/CFT

Tristan McLoughlin
(Trinity College Dublin)
Abstract
The study of the world-sheet S-matrix for AdS_5 x S^5 strings was a key step in the complete determination of the spectrum of anomalous dimensions for planar N=4 super-Yang-Mills. To go beyond the spectral problem it is important to consider higher-point worldsheet correlation functions and, as is standard in many integrable models, one approach is the study of form factors. We will discuss the all-order functional equations that these objects must obey, their perturbative computation and their connection to four-dimensional gauge theory three-point functions.
Fri, 21 Feb 2014
14:00
Comlab

"Network theory: an overview"

John Baez
(University of California)
Abstract

Nature and the world of human technology are full of
networks. People like to draw diagrams of networks: flow charts,
electrical circuit diagrams, signal flow diagrams, Bayesian networks,
Feynman diagrams and the like. Mathematically-minded people know that
in principle these diagrams fit into a common framework: category
theory. But we are still far from a unified theory of networks.

Fri, 21 Feb 2014

13:00 - 14:00
L6

Particle methods and the pricing of American options

Peng Hu
Abstract

The aim of this lecture is to give a general introduction to

the interacting particle system and applications in finance, especially

in the pricing of American options. We survey the main techniques and

results on Snell envelope, and provide a general framework to analyse

these numerical methods. New algorithms are introduced and analysed

theoretically and numerically.

Thu, 20 Feb 2014

16:00 - 17:00
C6

Doctor, I look at complex and symplectic structures and I see the same!

Roberto Rubio
Abstract

This talk will give an introduction to generalized complex geometry, where complex and symplectic structures are particular cases of the same structure, namely, a generalized complex structure. We will also talk about a sister theory, generalized complex geometry of type Bn, where generalized complex structures are defined for odd-dimensional manifolds as well as even-dimensional ones.

Thu, 20 Feb 2014

16:00 - 17:30
L2

Backward Stochastic Differential Equations with mean reflection

Ying Hu
(Université de Rennes 1 France)
Abstract

In this work, we want to construct the solution $(Y,Z,K)$ to the following BSDE

$$\begin{array}{l}

Y_t=\xi+\int_t^Tf(s,Y_s,Z_s)ds-\int_t^TZ_sdB_s+K_T-K_t, \quad 0\le t\le T, \\

{\mathbf E}[l(t, Y_t)]\ge 0, \quad 0\le t\le T,\\

\int_0^T{\mathbf E}[l(t, Y_t)]dK_t=0, \\

\end{array}

$$

where $x\mapsto l(t, x)$ is non-decreasing and the terminal condition $\xi$

is such that ${\mathbf E}[l(T,\xi)]\ge 0$.

This equation is different from the (classical) reflected BSDE. In particular, for a solution $(Y,Z,K)$,

we require that $K$ is deterministic. We will first study the case when $l$ is linear, and then general cases.

We also give some application to mathematical finance. This is a joint work with Philippe Briand and Romuald Elie.

Thu, 20 Feb 2014

16:00 - 17:00
L3

Mathematical modelling of abnormal beta oscillations in Parkinson’s disease

Rafal Bogacz
(University of Oxford (Neuroscience))
Abstract

In Parkinson’s disease, increased power of oscillations in firing rate has been observed throughout the cortico-basal-ganglia circuit. In

particular, the excessive oscillations in the beta range (13-30Hz) have been shown to be associated with difficulty of movement initiation. However, on the basis of experimental data alone it is difficult to determine where these oscillations are generated, due to complex and recurrent structure of the cortico-basal-ganglia-thalamic circuit. This talk will describe a mathematical model of a subset of basal-ganglia that is able to reproduce experimentally observed patterns of activity. The analysis of the model suggests where and under which conditions the beta oscillations are produced.

Thu, 20 Feb 2014

16:00 - 17:00
L6

From quadratic polynomials and continued fractions to modular forms

Paloma Bengoechea
(York)
Abstract
Zagier studied in 1999 certain real functions defined in a very simple way as sums of powers of quadratic polynomials with integer coefficients. These functions give the even parts of the period polynomials of the modular forms which are the coefficients in Fourier expansion of the kernel function for Shimura-Shintani correspondence. He conjectured for these sums a representation in terms of a finite set of polynomials coming from reduction of binary quadratic forms and the infinite set of transformations occuring in a continued fraction algorithm of the real variable. We will prove two different such representations, which imply the exponential convergence of the sums.

For Logic Seminar: Note change of time and location!