Mon, 02 Dec 2013
14:00
L5

Floer cohomology and Platonic solids

Yanki Lekili
(KCL)
Abstract

We consider Fano threefolds on which SL(2,C) acts with a dense

open orbit. This is a finite list of threefolds whose classification

follows from the classical work of Mukai-Umemura and Nakano. Inside

these threefolds, there sits a Lagrangian space form given as an orbit

of SU(2). We prove this Lagrangian is non-displaceable by Hamiltonian

isotopies via computing its Floer cohomology over a field of non-zero

characteristic. The computation depends on certain counts of holomorphic

disks with boundary on the Lagrangian, which we explicitly identify.

This is joint work in progress with Jonny Evans.

Mon, 02 Dec 2013
14:00
C6

Diamonds

Richard Lupton
(Oxford)
Abstract

 We take a look at diamond and use it to build interesting 
mathematical objects.

Fri, 29 Nov 2013

16:00 - 17:00
L4

A semi Markov model for market microstructure and high-frequency trading

Huyen Pham
(Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7)
Abstract

We construct a model for asset price in a limit order book, which captures on one hand main stylized facts of microstructure effects, and on the other hand is tractable for dealing with optimal high frequency trading by stochastic control methods. For this purpose, we introduce a model for describing the fluctuations of a tick-by-tick single asset price, based on Markov renewal process.

We consider a point process associated to the timestamps of the price jumps, and marks associated to price increments. By modeling the marks with a suitable Markov chain, we can reproduce the strong mean-reversion of price returns known as microstructure noise. Moreover, by using Markov renewal process, we can model the presence of spikes in intensity of market activity, i.e. the volatility clustering. We also provide simple parametric and nonparametric statistical procedures for the estimation of our model. We obtain closed-form formulae for the mean signature plot, and show the diffusive behavior of our model at large scale limit. We illustrate our results by numerical simulations, and find that our model is consistent with empirical data on futures Euribor and Eurostoxx. In a second part, we use a dynamic programming approach to our semi Markov model applied to the problem of optimal high frequency trading with a suitable modeling of market order flow correlated with the stock price, and taking into account in particular the adverse selection risk. We show a reduced-form for the value function of the associated control problem, and provide a convergent and computational scheme for solving the problem. Numerical tests display the shape of optimal policies for the market making problem.

This talk is based on joint works with Pietro Fodra.

Thu, 28 Nov 2013

17:15 - 18:15
L6

Set theory in a bimodal language.

James Studd
(Oxford)
Abstract

The use of tensed language and the metaphor of set "formation" found in informal descriptions of the iterative conception of set are seldom taken at all seriously. This talk offers an axiomatisation of the iterative conception in a bimodal language and presents some reasons to thus take the tense more seriously than usual (although not literally).

Thu, 28 Nov 2013

16:00 - 17:30
C6

Star products and formal connections

Paolo Masulli
(Aarhus University)
Abstract

I will introduce star products and formal connections and describe approaches to the problem of finding a trivialization of the formal Hitchin connection, using graph-theoretical computations.

Thu, 28 Nov 2013

16:00 - 17:00
L3

Network dynamics and meso-scale structures

Anne-Ly Do
(Max-Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems)
Abstract

The dynamics of networks of interacting systems depend intricately on the interaction topology. Dynamical implications of local topological properties such as the nodes' degrees and global topological properties such as the degree distribution have intensively been studied. Mesoscale properties, by contrast, have only recently come into the sharp focus of network science but have

rapidly developed into one of the hot topics in the field. Current questions are: can considering a mesoscale structure such as a single subgraph already allow conclusions on dynamical properties of the network as a whole? And: Can we extract implications that are independent of the embedding network? In this talk I will show that certain mesoscale subgraphs have precise and distinct

consequences for the system-level dynamics. In particular, they induce characteristic dynamical instabilities that are independent of the structure of the embedding network.

Thu, 28 Nov 2013

14:00 - 15:00
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, nr Didcot

Block LU factorization with panel Rank Revealing Pivoting and its Communication Avoiding version

Dr Amal Khabou
(University of Manchester)
Abstract

We present a block LU factorization with panel rank revealing

pivoting (block LU_PRRP), an algorithm based on strong

rank revealing QR for the panel factorization.

Block LU_PRRP is more stable than Gaussian elimination with partial

pivoting (GEPP), with a theoretical upper bound of the growth factor

of $(1+ \tau b)^{(n/ b)-1}$, where $b$ is the size of the panel used

during the block factorization, $\tau$ is a parameter of the strong

rank revealing QR factorization, and $n$ is the number of columns of

the matrix. For example, if the size of the panel is $b = 64$, and

$\tau = 2$, then $(1+2b)^{(n/b)-1} = (1.079)^{n-64} \ll 2^{n-1}$, where

$2^{n-1}$ is the upper bound of the growth factor of GEPP. Our

extensive numerical experiments show that the new factorization scheme

is as numerically stable as GEPP in practice, but it is more resistant

to some pathological cases where GEPP fails. We note that the block LU_PRRP

factorization does only $O(n^2 b)$ additional floating point operations

compared to GEPP.

Thu, 28 Nov 2013

12:00 - 13:00
L6

Contact Solutions for fully nonlinear PDE systems and applications to vector-valued Calculus of Variations in $L^{\infty}$

Dr. Nicholas Katzourakis
(University of Reading)
Abstract

Calculus of Variations for $L^{\infty}$ functionals has a successful history of 50 years, but until recently was restricted to the scalar case. Motivated by these developments, we have recently initiated the vector-valued case. In order to handle the complicated non-divergence PDE systems which arise as the analogue of the Euler-Lagrange equations, we have introduced a theory of "weak solutions" for general fully nonlinear PDE systems. This theory extends Viscosity Solutions of Crandall-Ishii-Lions to the general vector case. A central ingredient is the discovery of a vectorial notion of extremum for maps which is a vectorial substitute of the "Maximum Principle Calculus" and allows to "pass derivatives to test maps" in a duality-free fashion. In this talk we will discuss some rudimentary aspects of these recent developments.

Thu, 28 Nov 2013
11:00
C5

'Model Theory of Adeles and Adelic Geometry'.

Dr Derakhshan
(Oxford)
Abstract

This is joint work with Angus Macintyre. I will discuss new developments in 
our work on the model theory of adeles concerning model theoretic 
properties of adeles and related issues on adelic geometry and number theory.

Wed, 27 Nov 2013

17:00 - 18:00
L2

The fascination of what's difficult: Mathematical aspects of classical water wave theory from the past 20 years

Professor John Toland
(Newton Institute)
Abstract
Experimental observations about steady water waves have famously challenged mathematicians since Stokes and Scott-Russell in the 19th century and modern methods of global analysis are inadequate to answer the simplest of questions raised by careful numerical experiments in the 20th century. This lecture concerns mathematical advances that have emerged since Brooke's untimely death in 1995 and elucidates important challenges that remain to the present day. All are warmly invited to attend the lecture and reception that follows.
Wed, 27 Nov 2013

16:00 - 17:00
C6

Totally geodesic surfaces and Dehn surgery.

Hemanth Saratchandran
(Oxford)
Abstract

I will show how to construct an infinite family of totally geodesic surfaces in the figure eight knot complement that do not remain totally geodesic under certain Dehn surgeries. If time permits, I will explain how this behaviour can be understood via the theory of quadratic forms.

Wed, 27 Nov 2013

14:00 - 15:00
L4

The existence theorem for the steady Navier--Stokes equations in exterior axially symmetric domains

Professor Mikhail Korobkov
(Novosibirsk State University)
Abstract

We study the nonhomogeneous boundary value problem for Navier--Stokes equations of steady motion of a viscous incompressible fluid in  a plane or spatial exterior domain with multiply connected boundary. We prove that this problem has a solution for axially symmetric case (without any restrictions on fluxes, etc.)  No restriction on the size of fluxes are required. This is a joint result with K.Pileckas and R.Russo.

Wed, 27 Nov 2013
10:30
Queen's College

Complete Collineations and Compactifications of Complex Lie Groups

Mark Penney
Abstract

I will discuss what it means to compactify complex Lie groups and introduce the so-called "Wonderful Compactification" of groups having trivial centre. I will then show how the wonderful compactification of PGL(n) can be described in terms of complete collineations. Finally, I will discuss how the new perspective provided by complete collineations provides a way to construct compactifications of arbitrary semisimple groups.

Tue, 26 Nov 2013

17:00 - 18:00
C5

Discrete groups and continuous rings

Gabor Elek
(University of Lancaster)
Abstract

One of the most classical questions of modern algebra is whether the group algebra of a torsion-free group can be embedded into a skew field. I will give a short survey about embeddability of group algebras into skew fields, matrix rings and, in general, continuous rings.

Tue, 26 Nov 2013

15:45 - 16:45
L4

Contact property of symplectic magnetic flows on the two-sphere.

Gabriele Benedetti
(Cambridge)
Abstract

In this talk we aim to study periodic orbits on the energy levels of a symplectic magnetic flow on the two-sphere using methods from contact geometry. In particular we show that, if the energy is low enough, we either have two or infinitely many closed orbits. The second alternative holds if there exists a prime contractible periodic orbit. Finally we present some generalisations and work in progress for closed orientable surfaces of higher genus.

Tue, 26 Nov 2013

14:30 - 15:00
L5

Small dot, big challenging: on the new benchmark of Top500 and Green500

Shengxin (Jude) Zhu
(University of Oxford)
Abstract

A new benchmark, High Performance Conjugate Gradient (HPCG), finally was introduced recently for the Top500 list and the Green500 list. This will draw more attention to performance of sparse iterative solvers on distributed supercomputers and energy efficiency of hardware and software. At the same time, this will more widely promote the concept that communications are the bottleneck of performance of iterative solvers on distributed supercomputers, here we will go a little deeper, discussing components of communications and discuss which part takes a dominate share. Also discussed are mathematics tricks to detect some metrics of an underlying supercomputer.

Tue, 26 Nov 2013

14:30 - 15:30
L3

FO limits of trees

Dan Kral
(University of Warwick)
Abstract

Nesetril and Ossona de Mendez introduced a new notion of convergence of graphs called FO convergence. This notion can be viewed as a unified notion of convergence of dense and sparse graphs. In particular, every FO convergent sequence of graphs is convergent in the sense of left convergence of dense graphs as studied by Borgs, Chayes, Lovasz, Sos, Szegedy, Vesztergombi and others, and every FO convergent sequence of graphs with bounded maximum degree is convergent in the Benjamini-Schramm sense.

FO convergent sequences of graphs can be associated with a limit object called modeling. Nesetril and Ossona de Mendez showed that every FO convergent sequence of trees with bounded depth has a modeling. We extend this result

to all FO convergent sequences of trees and discuss possibilities for further extensions.

The talk is based on a joint work with Martin Kupec and Vojtech Tuma.

Tue, 26 Nov 2013
14:15
Dobson Room, AOPP

TBA

Andreas Klocker
Tue, 26 Nov 2013

14:00 - 14:30
L5

Novel numerical techniques for magma dynamics

Sander Rhebergen
(University of Oxford)
Abstract

We discuss the development of finite element techniques and solvers for magma dynamics computations. These are implemented within the FEniCS framework. This approach allows for user-friendly, expressive, high-level code development, but also provides access to powerful, scalable numerical solvers and a large family of finite element discretizations. The ability to easily scale codes to three dimensions with large meshes means that efficiency of the numerical algorithms is vital. We therefore describe our development and analysis of preconditioners designed specifically for finite element discretizations of equations governing magma dynamics. The preconditioners are based on Elman-Silvester-Wathen methods for the Stokes equation, and we extend these to flows with compaction.  This work is joint with Andrew Wathen and Richard Katz from the University of Oxford and Laura Alisic, John Rudge and Garth Wells from the University of Cambridge.