Fri, 10 Feb 2023

12:00 - 13:00
N3.12

Localisation of locally analytic representations (work in progress).

Arun Soor
(University of Oxford)
Abstract

Let $G$ be a $p$-adic Lie group. From the perspective of $p$-adic manifolds, possibly the most natural $p$-adic representations of $G$ to consider are the locally analytic ones.  Motivated by work of Pan, when $G$ acts on a rigid analytic variety $X$ (e.g., the flag variety), we would like to geometrise locally analytic $G$-representations, via a covariant localisation theory which should intertwine Schneider-Teitelbaum's duality with the $p$-adic Beilinson-Bernstein localisation. I will report some partial progress in the simplified situation when we replace $G$ by its germ at $1$. The main ingredient is an infinite jet bundle $\mathcal{J}^\omega_X$ which is dual to $\widehat{\mathcal{D}}_X$. Our "co"localisation functor is given by a coinduction to $\mathcal{J}^\omega_X$. Work in progress.

Thu, 09 Feb 2023
16:00
L4

Gowers uniformity of arithmetic functions in short intervals

Joni Teräväinen
(University of Turku)
Abstract

I will present results on short sums of arithmetic functions (in particular the von Mangoldt and divisor functions) twisted by polynomial exponential phases or more general nilsequence phases. These results imply the Gowers uniformity of suitably normalised versions of these functions in intervals of length X^c around X for suitable values of c (depending on the function and on whether one considers all or almost all short sums). I will also discuss an application to an averaged form of the Hardy-Littlewood conjecture. This is based on joint works with Kaisa Matomäki, Maksym Radziwiłł, Xuancheng Shao and Terence Tao.

Thu, 09 Feb 2023

16:00 - 17:00
L6

Short term predictability of returns in limit order markets: a Deep learning perspective

Lorenzo Lucchese
Abstract

We conduct a systematic large-scale analysis of order book-driven predictability in high-frequency returns by leveraging deep learning techniques. First, we introduce a new and robust representation of the order book, the volume representation. Next, we carry out an extensive empirical experiment to address various questions regarding predictability. We investigate if and how far ahead there is predictability, the importance of a robust data representation, the advantages of multi-horizon modeling, and the presence of universal trading patterns. We use model confidence sets, which provide a formalized statistical inference framework particularly well suited to answer these questions. Our findings show that at high frequencies predictability in mid-price returns is not just present, but ubiquitous. The performance of the deep learning models is strongly dependent on the choice of order book representation, and in this respect, the volume representation appears to have multiple practical advantages.

Thu, 09 Feb 2023
15:00
L6

The HKKP filtration for algebraic stacks

Andres Ibanez Nunez
Abstract

In work of Haiden-Katzarkov-Konsevich-Pandit (HKKP), a canonical filtration, labeled by sequences of real numbers, of a semistable quiver representation or vector bundle on a curve is defined. The HKKP filtration is a purely algebraic object that depends only on a poset, yet it governs the asymptotic behaviour of a natural gradient flow in the space of metrics of the object. 

In this talk, we show that the HKKP filtration can be recovered from the stack of semistable objects, thus generalising the HKKP filtration to other moduli problems of non-linear origin. In particular, we will make sense of the notion of a filtration labelled by sequence of numbers for a point of an algebraic stack.

Thu, 09 Feb 2023
15:00
L1

Geometric finiteness and surface group extensions

Jacob Russell
Abstract

There is a deep analogy between Kleinaian groups and subgroups of the mapping class group. Inspired by this, Farb and Mosher defined convex cocompact subgroups of the mapping class group in analogy with convex cocompact Kleinian groups. These subgroups have since seen immense study, producing surprising applications to the geometry of surface group extension and surface bundles.  In particular, Hamenstadt plus Farb and Mosher proved that a subgroup of the mapping class groups is convex cocompact if and only if the corresponding surface group extension is Gromov hyperbolic.

Among Kleinian groups, convex cocompact groups are a special case of the geometrically finite groups. Despite the progress on convex cocompactness, no robust notion of geometric finiteness in the mapping class group has emerged.  Durham, Dowdall, Leininger, and Sisto recently proposed that geometric finiteness in the mapping class group might be characterized by the corresponding surface group extension being hierarchically hyperbolic instead of Gromov hyperbolic. We provide evidence in favor of this hypothesis by proving that the surface group extension of the stabilizer of a multicurve is hierarchically hyperbolic.

Thu, 09 Feb 2023

14:00 - 15:00
Lecture Room 3

Toward nonlinear multigrid for nonlinear variational inequalities

Ed Bueler
(University of Alaska Fairbanks)
Abstract

I will start with two very brief surveys.  First is a class of problems, namely variational inequalities (VIs), which generalize PDE problems, and second is a class of solver algorithms, namely full approximation storage (FAS) nonlinear multigrid for PDEs.  Motivation for applying FAS to VIs is demonstrated in the standard mathematical model for glacier surface evolution, a very general VI problem relevant to climate modeling.  (Residuals for this nonlinear and non-local VI problem are computed by solving a Stokes model.)  Some existing nonlinear multilevel VI schemes, based on global (Newton) linearization would seem to be less suited to such general VI problems.  From this context I will sketch some work-in-progress toward the scalable solutions of nonlinear and nonlocal VIs by an FAS-type multilevel method.

Thu, 09 Feb 2023
12:00
L1

Finite time blowup of incompressible flows surrounding compressible bubbles evolving under soft equations of state

Robert Van Gorder
(University of Otago)

Note: we would recommend to join the meeting using the Zoom client for best user experience.

Further Information

 

Robert, formerly a Research Fellow in Nonlinear Dynamics, and a Glasstone Fellow here at the Mathematical Institute. He is now a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Otago, New Zealand. You can read more about Robert's teaching and research here

Abstract
We explore the dynamics of a compressible fluid bubble surrounded by an incompressible fluid of infinite extent in three-dimensions, constructing bubble solutions with finite time blowup under this framework when the equation of state relating pressure and volume is soft (e.g., with volume singularities that are locally weaker than that in the Boyle-Mariotte law), resulting in a finite time blowup of the surrounding incompressible fluid, as well. We focus on two families of solutions, corresponding to a soft polytropic process (with the bubble decreasing in size until eventual collapse, resulting in velocity and pressure blowup) and a cavitation equation of state (with the bubble expanding until it reaches a critical cavitation volume, at which pressure blows up to negative infinity, indicating a vacuum). Interestingly, the kinetic energy of these solutions remains bounded up to the finite blowup time, making these solutions more physically plausible than those developing infinite energy. For all cases considered, we construct exact solutions for specific parameter sets, as well as analytical and numerical solutions which show the robustness of the qualitative blowup behaviors for more generic parameter sets. Our approach suggests novel -- and perhaps physical -- routes to the finite time blowup of fluid equations.
Wed, 08 Feb 2023
16:00
L6

Minimal disks and the tower construction in 3-manifolds

Ognjen Tosic
(University of Oxford)
Abstract

A fundamental result in 3-manifold topology is the loop theorem: Given a null-homotopic simple closed curve in the boundary of a compact 3-manifold $M$, it bounds an embedded disk in $M$. The standard topological proof of this uses the tower construction due to Papakyriakopoulos. In this talk, I will introduce basic existence and regularity results on minimal surfaces, and show how to use the tower construction to prove a geometric version of the loop theorem due to Meeks--Yau: Given a null-homotopic simple closed curve in the boundary of a compact Riemannian 3-manifold $M$ with convex boundary, it bounds an embedded disk of least area. This also gives an independent proof of the (topological) loop theorem.

Tue, 07 Feb 2023
16:00
C3

Rigidity examples constructed with wreath-like product groups

Bin Sun
(University of Oxford)
Abstract

Wreath-like product groups were introduced recently and used to construct the first positive examples of rigidity conjectures of Connes and Jones. In this talk, I will review those examples, as well as discuss some ideas to construct examples with other rigidity phenomena by modifying the wreath-like product construction.

Tue, 07 Feb 2023
15:30
L4

Constant Scalar Curvature Metrics on Algebraic Manifolds (Part II)

Sean Timothy Paul
(University of Wisconsin Madison)
Abstract

According to the Yau-Tian-Donaldson conjecture, the existence of a constant scalar curvature Kähler (cscK) metric in the cohomology class of an ample line bundle $L$ on a compact complex manifold $X$ should be equivalent to an algebro-geometric "stability condition" satisfied by the pair $(X,L)$. The cscK metrics are the critical points of Mabuchi's $K$-energy functional $M$, defined on the space of Kähler potentials, and an important result of Chen-Cheng shows that cscK metrics exist iff $M$ satisfies a standard growth condition (coercivity/properness). Recently the speaker has shown that the $K$-energy is indeed proper if and only if the polarized manifold is stable. The stability condition is closely related to the classical notion of Hilbert-Mumford stability. The speaker will give a non-technical account of the many areas of mathematics that are involved in the proof. In particular, he hopes to discuss the surprising role played by arithmetic geometry ​in the spirit of Arakelov, Faltings, and Bismut-Gillet-Soule.

Tue, 07 Feb 2023

15:30 - 16:30
Virtual

Bounds for subsets of $\mathbb{F}_{p}^{n} \times \mathbb{F}_{p}^{n}$ without L-shaped configurations

Sarah Peluse
(Princeton/IAS)
Further Information

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

Abstract

I will discuss the difficult problem of proving reasonable bounds in the multidimensional generalization of Szemerédi's theorem and describe a proof of such bounds for sets lacking nontrivial configurations of the form (x,y), (x,y+z), (x,y+2z), (x+z,y) in the finite field model setting.

Tue, 07 Feb 2023
14:30

Global nonconvex quadratic optimization with Gurobi

Robert Luce
(GUROBI)
Abstract

We consider the problem of solving nonconvex quadratic optimization problems, potentially with additional integrality constraints on the variables.  Gurobi takes a branch-and-bound approach to solve such problems to global optimality, and in this talk we will review the three main algorithmic components that Gurobi uses:  Convex relaxations based on local linearization, globally valid cutting planes, and nonlinear local optimization heuristics.  We will explain how these parts play together, and discuss some of the implementation details.

 

Tue, 07 Feb 2023

14:00 - 15:00
Virtual

Recent progress on random graph matching problems

Jian Ding
(Peking University)
Further Information

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

Abstract

In this talk, I will review some recent progress on random graph matching problems, that is, to recover the vertex correspondence between a pair of correlated random graphs from the observation of two unlabelled graphs. In this talk, I will touch issues of information threshold, efficient algorithms as well as complexity theory. This is based on joint works with Hang Du, Shuyang Gong and Zhangsong Li.

Tue, 07 Feb 2023
14:00
L6

Bornological and condensed mathematics

Federico Bambozzi
(University of Padova)
Abstract

I will explain how bornological and condensed structures can both be described as algebraic theories. I will also show how this permits the construction of functors between bornological and condensed structures. If time permits I will also briefly describe how to compare condensed derived geometry and bornological derived geometry and sketch how they relate to analytic geometry and Arakelov geometry

Tue, 07 Feb 2023
14:00

Multigrid solvers for the de Rham complex with optimal complexity in polynomial degree

Pablo Brubeck
Abstract

The numerical solution of elliptic PDEs is often the most computationally intensive task in large-scale continuum mechanics simulations.  High-order finite element methods can efficiently exploit modern parallel hardware while offering very rapid convergence properties.  As the polynomial degree is increased, the efficient solution of such PDEs becomes difficult. In this talk we introduce preconditioners for high-order discretizations. We build upon the pioneering work of Pavarino, who proved in 1993 that the additive Schwarz method with vertex patches and a low-order coarse space gives a  solver for symmetric and coercive problems that is robust to the polynomial degree. 

However, for very high polynomial degrees it is not feasible to assemble or factorize the matrices for each vertex patch, as the patch matrices contain dense blocks, which couple together all degrees of freedom within a cell. The central novelty of the preconditioners we develop is that they have the same time and space complexity as sum-factorized operator application on unstructured meshes of tensor-product cells, i.e., we can solve $A x=b$ with the same complexity as evaluating $b-A x$. Our solver relies on new finite elements for the de Rham complex that enable the blocks in the stiffness matrix corresponding to the cell interiors to become diagonal for scalar PDEs or block diagonal for vector-valued PDEs.  With these new elements, the patch problems are as sparse as a low-order finite difference discretization, while having a sparser Cholesky factorization. In the non-separable case, themethod can be applied as a preconditioner by approximating the problem with a separable surrogate.  Through the careful use of incomplete factorizations and choice of space decomposition we achieve optimal fill-in in the patch factors, ultimately allowing for optimal-complexity storage and computational cost across the setup and solution stages.

We demonstrate the approach by solving the Riesz maps of $H^1$, $H(\mathrm{curl})$, and $H(\mathrm{div})$ in three dimensions at $p = 15$.


 

Tue, 07 Feb 2023
12:30
C3

Studying occupational mobility using online resume data

Rohit Sahasrabuddhe
Abstract

Data sets of self-reported online resumes are a valuable tool to understand workers' career trajectories and how workers may adapt to the changing demands of employers. However, the sample of workers that choose to upload their resumes online may not be representative of a nation's workforce. To understand the advantages and limitations of these datasets, we analyze a data set of more than 1 Million online resumes and compare the findings with a administrative data from the Current Population Survey (CPS).
 

Tue, 07 Feb 2023

12:00 - 13:15
L3

The stochastic analysis of Euclidean QFTs

Massimiliano Gubinelli
(Mathematical Insitute, Oxford)
Abstract

I will report on a research program which uses ideas from stochastic analysis in the context of constructive Euclidean quantum field theory. Stochastic analysis is the study of measures on path spaces via push-forward from Gaussian measures. The foundational example is the map, introduced by Itô, which sends Brownian motion to a diffusion process solution to a stochastic differential equation. Parisi–Wu's stochastic quantisation is the stochastic analysis of an Euclidean quantum field, in the above sense. In this introductory talk, I will put these ideas in context and illustrate various stochastic quantisation procedures and some of the rigorous results one can obtain from them.

Mon, 06 Feb 2023
16:30
L4

Singularities along the Lagrangian mean curvature flow of surfaces

Felix Schulze
(Warwick)
Abstract
It is an open question to determine which Hamiltonian isotopy classes of Lagrangians in a Calabi-Yau manifold have a special Lagrangian representative. One approach is to follow the steepest descent of area, i.e. the mean curvature flow, which preserves the Lagrangian condition. But in general such a flow will develop singularities in finite time, and it has been open how to continue the flow past singularities. We will give an introduction to the problem and explain recent advances where we show that in the simplest possible situation, i.e. the Lagrangian mean curvature flow of surfaces, when the singularity is the special Lagrangian union of two transverse planes, then the flow forms a “neck pinch”, and can be continued past the singularity. This is joint work with Jason Lotay and Gábor Székelyhidi.
Mon, 06 Feb 2023
16:00
L6

TBD

TBD
Mon, 06 Feb 2023
15:30
L4

The infinitesimal tangle hypothesis

Joost Nuiten (Toulouse)
Abstract

The tangle hypothesis is a variant of the cobordism hypothesis that considers cobordisms embedded in some finite-dimensional Euclidean space (together with framings). Such tangles of codimension d can be organized into an E_d-monoidal n-category, where n is the maximal dimension of the tangles. The tangle hypothesis then asserts that this category of tangles is the free E_d-monoidal n-category with duals generated by a single object.

In this talk, based on joint work in progress with Yonatan Harpaz, I will describe an infinitesimal version of the tangle hypothesis: Instead of showing that the E_d-monoidal category of tangles is freely generated by an object, we show that its cotangent complex is free of rank 1. This provides supporting evidence for the tangle hypothesis, but can also be used to reduce the tangle hypothesis to a statement at the level of E_d-monoidal (n+1, n)-categories by means of obstruction theory.

 

Mon, 06 Feb 2023

15:30 - 16:30
L1

Monte-Carlo simulations for wall-bounded incompressible viscous fluid flows

Zhongmin Qian
Abstract

In this talk I will present several new stochastic representations for
solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations in a wall-bounded region,
in the spirit of mean field theory. These new representations are
obtained by using the duality of conditional laws associated with the Taylor diffusion family.
By using these representation, Monte-Carlo simulations for boundary fluid flows, including
boundary turbulence, may be implemented. Numerical experiments are given to demonstrate the usefulness of this approach.

Mon, 06 Feb 2023
14:15
L4

Constant Scalar Curvature Metrics on Algebraic Manifolds

Sean Timothy Paul
(University of Wisconsin Madison)
Abstract

According to the Yau-Tian-Donaldson conjecture, the existence of a constant scalar curvature Kähler (cscK) metric in the cohomology class of an ample line bundle $L$ on a compact complex manifold $X$ should be equivalent to an algebro-geometric "stability condition" satisfied by the pair $(X,L)$. The cscK metrics are the critical points of Mabuchi's $K$-energy functional $M$, defined on the space of Kähler potentials, and an important result of Chen-Cheng shows that cscK metrics exist iff $M$ satisfies a standard growth condition (coercivity/properness). Recently the speaker has shown that the $K$-energy is indeed proper if and only if the polarized manifold is stable. The stability condition is closely related to the classical notion of Hilbert-Mumford stability. The speaker will give a non-technical account of the many areas of mathematics that are involved in the proof. In particular, he hopes to discuss the surprising role played by arithmetic geometry ​in the spirit of Arakelov, Faltings, and Bismut-Gillet-Soule.

Mon, 06 Feb 2023

14:00 - 15:00
L6

Constrained and Multirate Training of Neural Networks

Tiffany Vlaar
(McGill University )
Abstract

I will describe algorithms for regularizing and training deep neural networks. Soft constraints, which add a penalty term to the loss, are typically used as a form ofexplicit regularization for neural network training. In this talk I describe a method for efficiently incorporating constraints into a stochastic gradient Langevin framework for the training of deep neural networks. In contrast to soft constraints, our constraints offer direct control of the parameter space, which allows us to study their effect on generalization. In the second part of the talk, I illustrate the presence of latent multiple time scales in deep learning applications.

Different features present in the data can be learned by training a neural network on different time scales simultaneously. By choosing appropriate partitionings of the network parameters into fast and slow parts I show that our multirate techniques can be used to train deep neural networks for transfer learning applications in vision and natural language processing in half the time, without reducing the generalization performance of the model.

Mon, 06 Feb 2023
13:00
L1

Distinguishing SCFTs in Four and Six Dimensions

Craig Lawrie
(DESY)
Abstract

When do two quantum field theories describe the same physics? I will discuss some approaches to this question in the context of superconformal field theories in four and six dimensions. First, I will discuss the construction of 6d (1,0) SCFTs from the perspective of the "atomic classification", focussing on an oft-overlooked subtlety whereby distinct SCFTs in fact share an effective description on the generic point of the tensor branch. We will see how to determine the difference in the Higgs branch operator spectrum from the atomic perspective, and how that agrees with a dual class S perspective. I will explain how other 4d N=2 SCFTs, which a priori look like distinct theories, can be shown to describe the same physics, as they arise as torus-compactifications of identical 6d theories.

Fri, 03 Feb 2023

15:30 - 16:30
Large Lecture Theatre, Department of Statistics, University of Oxford

Statistics' Florence Nightingale Lecture

Professor Marloes Matthuis
(ETH Zurich)
Further Information

Title: “Causal learning from observational data”

Please register in advance using the online form: https://www.stats.ox.ac.uk/events/florence-nightingale-lecture-2023

Marloes Henriette Maathuis is a Dutch statistician known for her work on causal inference using graphical models, particularly in high-dimensional data from applications in biology and epidemiology. She is a professor of statistics at ETH Zurich in Switzerland.

Abstract

I will discuss a line of work on estimating causal effects from observational data. In the first part of the talk, I will discuss identification and estimation of causal effects when the underlying causal graph is known, using adjustment. In the second part, I will discuss what one can do when the causal graph is unknown. Throughout, examples will be used to illustrate the concepts and no background in causality is assumed.

Fri, 03 Feb 2023

14:00 - 15:00
L3

Challenges in modeling the transmission dynamics of childhood diseases

Prof Felicia Magpantay
(Dept of Math and Stats Queen’s University Kingston)
Abstract

Mathematical models of childhood diseases are often fitted using deterministic methods under the assumption of homogeneous contact rates within populations. Such models can provide good agreement with data in the absence of significant changes in population demography or transmission, such as in the case of pre-vaccine era measles. However, accurate modeling and forecasting after the start of mass vaccination has proved more challenging. This is true even in the case of measles which has a well understood natural history and a very effective vaccine. We demonstrate how the dynamics of homogeneous and age-structured models can be similar in the absence of vaccination, but diverge after vaccine roll-out. We also present some fundamental differences in deterministic and stochastic methods to fit models to data, and propose techniques to fit long term time series with imperfect covariate information. The methods we develop can be applied to many types of complex systems beyond those in disease ecology.
 

Fri, 03 Feb 2023

12:00 - 13:00
N3.12

Geometric Incarnations of (Shifted) Quantum Loop Algebras

Henry Liu
(University of Oxford)
Abstract

I'll briefly explain quantum groups and $R$-matrices and why they're the same thing. Then we'll see how to construct various $R$-matrices from Nakajima quiver varieties and some possible applications.

Thu, 02 Feb 2023
17:00
L3

Geometric Stability Theory and the Classification of Unstable Structures

Scott Mutchnik
(University of California, Berkeley)
Abstract

The equivalence of NSOP${}_1$ and NSOP${}_3$, two model-theoretic complexity properties, remains open, and both the classes NSOP${}_1$ and NSOP${}_3$ are more complex than even the simple unstable theories. And yet, it turns out that classical geometric stability theory, in particular the group configuration theorem of Hrushovski (1992), is capable of controlling classification theory on either side of the NSOP${}_1$-SOP${}_3$ dichotomy, via the expansion of stable theories by generic predicates and equivalence relations. This allows us to construct new examples of strictly NSOP${}_1$ theories. We introduce generic expansions corresponding, though universal axioms, to definable relations in the underlying theory, and discuss the existence of model companions for some of these expansions. In the case where the defining relation in the underlying theory $T$ is a ternary relation $R(x, y, z)$ coming from a surface in 3-space, we give a surprising application of the group configuration theorem to classifying the corresponding generic expansion $T^R$. Namely, when $T$ is weakly minimal and eliminates the quantifier $\exists^{\infty}$, $T^R$ is strictly NSOP${}_4$ and TP${}_2$ exactly when $R$ comes from the graph of a type-definable group operation; otherwise, depending on whether the expansion is by a generic predicate or a generic equivalence relation, it is simple or NSOP${}_1$.

Thu, 02 Feb 2023
16:00
L4

The Wiles-Lenstra-Diamond numerical criterion over imaginary quadratic fields

Jeff Manning
(Imperial College London)
Abstract

Wiles' modularity lifting theorem was the central argument in his proof of modularity of (semistable) elliptic curves over Q, and hence of Fermat's Last Theorem. His proof relied on two key components: his "patching" argument (developed in collaboration with Taylor) and his numerical isomorphism criterion.

In the time since Wiles' proof, the patching argument has been generalized extensively to prove a wide variety of modularity lifting results. In particular Calegari and Geraghty have found a way to generalize it to prove potential modularity of elliptic curves over imaginary quadratic fields (contingent on some standard conjectures). The numerical criterion on the other hand has proved far more difficult to generalize, although in situations where it can be used it can prove stronger results than what can be proven purely via patching.

In this talk I will present joint work with Srikanth Iyengar and Chandrashekhar Khare which proves a generalization of the numerical criterion to the context considered by Calegari and Geraghty (and contingent on the same conjectures). This allows us to prove integral "R=T" theorems at non-minimal levels over imaginary quadratic fields, which are inaccessible by Calegari and Geraghty's method. The results provide new evidence in favor of a torsion analog of the classical Langlands correspondence.

Thu, 02 Feb 2023

16:00 - 17:00
L6

Energy transition under scenario uncertainty: a mean-field game approach

Roxana Dumitrescu
Abstract

We study the impact of transition scenario uncertainty, and in particular, the uncertainty about future carbon price and electricity demand, on the pace of decarbonization of the electricity industry. To this end, we build a discrete time mean-field game model for the long-term dynamics of the electricity market subject to common random shocks affecting the carbon price and the electricity demand. These shocks depend on a macroeconomic scenario, which is not observed by the agents, but can be partially deduced from the frequency of the shocks. Due to this partial observation feature, the common noise is non-Markovian. We consider two classes of agents: conventional producers and renewable producers. The former choose an optimal moment to exit the market and the latter choose an optimal moment to enter the market by investing into renewable generation. The agents interact through the market price determined by a merit order mechanism with an exogenous stochastic demand. We prove the existence of Nash equilibria in the resulting mean-field game of optimal stopping with common noise, developing a novel linear programming approach for these problems. We illustrate our model by an example inspired by the UK electricity market, and show that scenario uncertainty leads to significant changes in the speed of replacement of conventional generators by renewable production.

Thu, 02 Feb 2023
15:00
L6

Higher Geometry by Examples

Chenjing Bu
Abstract

We give an introduction to the subject of higher geometry, by giving many examples of higher geometric objects, and looking at their properties. These include examples of 2-rings, 2-vector spaces, and 2-vector bundles. We show how these concepts help solve problems in ordinary geometry, as one of the many motivations of the subject. We assume no prerequisites on the subject, and the talk should be applicable to both differential and algebraic geometry.

Thu, 02 Feb 2023
14:00
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, nr Didcot

Reducing CO2 emissions for aircraft flights through complex wind fields using three different optimal control approaches

Cathie Wells
(University of Reading)
Abstract

Whilst we all enjoy travelling to exciting and far-off locations, the current climate crisis is making flights less and less attractive. But is there anything we can do about this? By plotting courses that make best use of atmospheric data to minimise aircraft fuel burn, airlines can not only save money on fuel, but also reduce emissions, whilst not significantly increasing flight times. In each case the route between London Heathrow Airport and John F Kennedy Airport in New York is considered.  Atmospheric data is taken from a re-analysis dataset based on daily averages from 1st December, 2019 to 29th February, 2020.

Initially Pontryagin’s minimum principle is used to find time minimal routes between the airports and these are compared with flight times along the organised track structure routes prepared by the air navigation service providers NATS and NAV CANADA for each day.  Efficiency of tracks is measured using air distance, revealing that potential savings of between 0.7% and 16.4% can be made depending on the track flown. This amounts to a reduction of 6.7 million kg of CO2 across the whole winter period considered.

In a second formulation, fixed time flights are considered, thus reducing landing delays.  Here a direct method involving a reduced gradient approach is applied to find fuel minimal flight routes either by controlling just heading angle or both heading angle and airspeed. By comparing fuel burn for each of these scenarios, the importance of airspeed in the control formulation is established.  

Finally dynamic programming is applied to the problem to minimise fuel use and the resulting flight routes are compared with those actually flown by 9 different models of aircraft during the winter of 2019 to 2020. Results show that savings of 4.6% can be made flying east and 3.9% flying west, amounting to 16.6 million kg of CO2 savings in total.

Thus large reductions in fuel consumption and emissions are possible immediately, by planning time or fuel minimal trajectories, without waiting decades for incremental improvements in fuel-efficiency through technological advances.
 

Thu, 02 Feb 2023
12:00
L1

Copolymer templating from a mathematical and physical perspective

Thomas Ouldridge and Benjamin Qureshi
(Imperial College)
Further Information

 

Thomas is a Reader in Biomolecular Systems in the Department of Bioengineering at Imperial College. He leads the "Principles of Biomolecular Systems" group. 'His group probes the fundamental principles underlying complex biochemical systems through theoretical modelling, simulation and experiment.' (Taken from his website: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/principles-of-biomolecular-systems/)

You can also learn more about their work via their blog here

Abstract

Biological systems achieve their complexity by processing and exploiting information stored in molecular copolymers such as DNA, RNA and proteins. Despite the ubiquity and power of this approach in natural systems, our ability to implement similar functionality in synthetic systems is very limited. In this talk, we will first outline a new mathematical framework for analysing general models of colymerisation for infinitely long polymers. For a given model of copolymerisation, this approach allows for the extraction of key quantities such as the sequence distribution, speed of polymerisation and the rate of molecular fuel consumption without resorting to simulation. Subsequently, we will explore mechanisms that allow for reliable copying of the information stored in finite-length template copolymers, before touching on recent experimental work in which these ideas are put into practice.  

Wed, 01 Feb 2023
16:00
L6

Conjugacy languages in virtual graph products

Gemma Crowe
(Heriot-Watt University)
Abstract

Many classes of finitely generated groups have been studied using formal language theory techniques. One historical example is the study of geodesics, which gives rise to the strict growth series of a group. Properties of languages associated to groups can provide insight into the nature of the growth series.

In this talk we will introduce languages associated to conjugacy classes, rather than elements of the group. This will lead us to define an analogous series, namely the conjugacy growth series of a group, which has become a popular topic in recent years. After discussing the necessary group theoretic and language tools needed, we will focus on how these conjugacy languages behave in graph products. We will finish with some new results which look at when these properties can extend to virtual graph products.

Tue, 31 Jan 2023
15:00
L3

Finitely generated groups acting uniformly properly on hyperbolic spaces

Robert Kropholler
Abstract

An example of a uniformly proper action is the action of a group (or any of its subgroups) on its Cayley graph. A natural question appearing in a paper of Coulon and Osin, is whether the class of groups acting uniformly properly on hyperbolic spaces coincides with the class of subgroups of hyperbolic groups. In joint work with Vladimir Vankov we construct an uncountable family of finitely generated groups which act uniformly properly on hyperbolic spaces. This gives the first examples of finitely generated groups acting uniformly properly on hyperbolic spaces that are not subgroups of hyperbolic groups. We also give examples that are not virtually torsion-free.

Tue, 31 Jan 2023

14:00 - 15:00
L4

Hypercontractivity on compact Lie groups, and some applications

David Ellis
(University of Bristol)
Abstract

We present two ways of obtaining hypercontractive inequalities for low-degree functions on compact Lie groups: one based on Ricci curvature bounds, the Bakry-Emery criterion and the representation theory of compact Lie groups, and another based on a (very different) probabilistic coupling approach. As applications we make progress on a question of Gowers concerning product-free subsets of the special unitary groups, and we also obtain 'mixing' inequalities for the special unitary groups, the special orthogonal groups, the spin groups and the compact symplectic groups. We expect that the latter inequalities will have applications in physics.

Based on joint work with Guy Kindler (HUJI), Noam Lifshitz (HUJI) and Dor Minzer (MIT).

Tue, 31 Jan 2023
14:00
L6

Blocks for classical p-adic groups and the local Langlands correspondence

Robert Kurinczuk
(University of Sheffield)
Abstract

The local Langlands conjectures connect representations of p-adic groups to certain representations of Galois groups of local fields called Langlands parameters.  Recently, there has been a shift towards studying representations over more general coefficient rings and towards certain categorical enhancements of the original conjectures.  In this talk, we will focus on representations over coefficient rings with p invertible and how the corresponding category of representations of the p-adic group decomposes.  

Mon, 30 Jan 2023
16:30
L4

Improved bounds for the fundamental solution of the heat equation in exterior domains

Jose A. Cañizo
(Granada)
Abstract

We use entropy methods to show that the heat equation with Dirichlet boundary conditions on the complement of a compact set in R^d shows a self-similar behaviour much like the usual heat equation on R^d, once we account for the loss of mass due to the boundary. Giving good lower bounds for the fundamental solution on these sets is surprisingly a relatively recent result, and we find some improvements using some advances in logarithmic Sobolev inequalities. In particular, we are able to give optimal asymptotic bounds for large times for the fundamental solution with an explicit approach rate in dimensions larger than 2, and some new bounds in dimension 2.

This is a work in collaboration with Alejandro Gárriz and Fernando Quirós.

Mon, 30 Jan 2023
16:00
L6

Collisions in supersingular isogeny graphs

Wissam Ghantous
(University of Oxford)
Abstract

In this talk we will study the graph structure of supersingular isogeny graphs. These graphs are known to have very few loops and multi-edges. We formalize this idea by studying and finding bounds for their number of loops and multi-edges. We also find conditions under which these graphs are simple. To do so, we introduce a method of counting the total number of collisions (which are special endomorphisms) based on a trace formula of Gross and a known formula of Kronecker, Gierster and Hurwitz. 

The method presented in this talk can be used to study many kinds of collisions in supersingular isogeny graphs. As an application, we will see how this method was used to estimate a certain number of collisions and then show that isogeny graphs do not satisfy a certain cryptographic property that was falsely believed (and proven!) to hold.

Mon, 30 Jan 2023
15:30
L4

Profinite rigidity, 3-manifolds, and finitness properties

Martin Bridson
(University of Oxford)
Abstract

I shall begin with a brief history of the problem of trying to understand infinite groups knowing only their finite quotients. I'll then focus on 3-manifold groups, describing the prominent role that they have played in advancing our understanding of this problem in recent years. The story for 3-manifold groups involves a rich interplay of algebra, geometry, and arithmetic. I shall describe arithmetic Kleinian groups that are profinitely rigid in the absolute sense -- ie they can be distinguished from all other finitely generated, residually finite groups by their set of finite quotients. I shall then explain more recent work involving products of Seifert fibered manifolds -- here we find groups that are profinitely rigid in the class of finitely presented groups but not in the class of finitely generated groups. This is joint work with McReynolds, Reid, and Spitler.

Mon, 30 Jan 2023

15:30 - 16:30
L1

Systemic Risk in Markets with Multiple Central Counterparties

Luitgard Veraart
Abstract

We provide a framework for modelling risk and quantifying payment shortfalls in cleared markets with multiple central counterparties (CCPs). Building on the stylised fact that clearing membership is shared among CCPs, we show how this can transmit stress across markets through multiple CCPs. We provide stylised examples to lay out how such stress transmission can take place, as well as empirical evidence to illustrate that the mechanisms we study could be relevant in practice. Furthermore, we show how stress mitigation mechanisms such as variation margin gains haircutting by one CCP can have spillover effects on other CCPs. The framework can be used to enhance CCP stress-testing, which currently relies on the “Cover 2” standard requiring CCPs to be able to withstand the default of their two largest clearing members. We show that who these two clearing members are can be significantly affected by higher-order effects arising from interconnectedness through shared clearing membership. Looking at the full network of CCPs and shared clearing members is therefore important from a financial stability perspective.

This is joint work with Iñaki Aldasoro.

BIS Working Paper No 1052: https://www.bis.org/publ/work1052.pdf

Mon, 30 Jan 2023
14:15
L4

Mirror symmetry and big algebras

Tamas Hausel
(IST Austria)
Abstract

First we recall the mirror symmetry identification of the coordinate ring of certain very stable upward flows in the Hitchin system and the Kirillov algebra for the minuscule representation of the Langlands dual group via the equivariant cohomology of the cominuscule flag variety (e.g. complex Grassmannian). In turn we discuss a conjectural extension of this picture to non-very stable upward flows in terms of a big commutative subalgebra of the Kirillov algebra, which also ringifies the equivariant intersection cohomology of the corresponding affine Schubert variety.

Mon, 30 Jan 2023
13:00
L1

Double holography and Page curves in Type IIB

Christoph Uhlemann
(Oxford )
Abstract

In recent progress on the black hole information paradox, Page curves consistent with unitarity have been obtained in 2d models and in bottom-up braneworld models using the notion of double holography. In this talk we discuss top-down models realizing 4d black holes coupled to a bath in Type IIB string theory and obtain Page curves. We make the ideas behind double holography precise in these models and address causality puzzles which have arisen in the bottom-up models, leading to a refinement of their interpretation.
 

Fri, 27 Jan 2023
16:00
N3.12

K-theory

Sujay Nair
Further Information

Junior Strings is a seminar series where DPhil students present topics of common interest that do not necessarily overlap with their own research area. This is primarily aimed at PhD students and post-docs but everyone is welcome.

Fri, 27 Jan 2023
16:00
L1

How to give a talk

Abstract

In this session, we will hold a panel discussion on how to best give an academic talk. Among other topics, we will focus on techniques for engaging your audience, for determining the level and technical details of the talk, and for giving both blackboard and slide presentations. The discussion will begin with a directed panel discussion before opening up to questions from the audience.

Fri, 27 Jan 2023
15:00
L2

TDA Centre Meeting

Various Speakers
(Mathematical Institute (University of Oxford))
Fri, 27 Jan 2023

14:00 - 15:00
Virtual

Digital twin models for the precision diagnosis and therapy of cancer

Prof Walter Kolch
(School of Medicine University College Dublin)
Abstract

Approaches to personalized diagnosis and treatment in oncology are heavily reliant on computer models that use molecular and clinical features to
characterize an individual patient’s disease. Most of these models use genome and/or gene expression sequences to develop classifiers of a patient’s
tumor. However, in order to fully model the behavior and therapy response of a tumor, dynamic models are desirable that can act like a Digital Twin of
the cancer patient allowing prognostic and predictive simulations of disease progression, therapy responses and development of resistance. We are
constructing Digital Twins of cancer patients in order to perform dynamic and predictive simulations that improve patient stratification and
facilitate the design of individualized therapeutic strategies. Using a hybrid approach that combines artificial intelligence / machine learning
with dynamic mechanistic modelling we are developing a computational framework for generating Digital Twins. This framework can integrate
different types of data (multiomics, clinical, and existing knowledge) and produces personalized computational models of a patient’s tumor. The
computational models are validated and refined by experimental work and in retrospective patient studies. We present some of the results of the dynamic
Digital Twins simulations in neuroblastoma. They include (i) identification on non-MYCN amplified high risk patients; (ii) prediction of individual
patients’ responses to chemotherapy; and (iii) identification of new drug targets for personalized therapy. Digital Twin models allow the dynamic and
mechanistic simulation of disease progression and therapy response. They are useful for the stratification of patients and the design of personalized
therapies.