About the role
The Mathematical Institute at the University of Oxford will soon begin a new project to mentor students for GCSE Mathematics. We will work directly with identified schools to support Key Stage 4 (KS4) students to reach the very top grades in GCSE Mathematics by providing a sustained programme of resources and mentoring. In particular, we will focus on students on track to achieve at least a grade 7 in GCSE Mathematics who have the potential to achieve a grade 8 or 9.
13:00
An algebraic derivation of Morse Complexes for poset-graded chain complexes
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Abstract
The Morse-Conley complex is a central object in information compression in topological data analysis, as well as the application of homological algebra to analysing dynamical systems. Given a poset-graded chain complex, its Morse-Conley complex is the optimal chain-homotopic reduction of the initial complex that respects the poset grading. In this work, we give a purely algebraic derivation of the Morse-Conley complex using homological perturbation theory. Unlike Forman’s discrete Morse theory for cellular complexes, our algebraic formulation does not require the computation of acyclic partial matchings of cells. We show how this algebraic perspective also yields efficient algorithms for computing the Conley complex. This talk features joint work with Álvaro Torras Casas and Ulrich Pennig in "Computing Connection Matrices of Conley Complexes via Algebraic Morse Theory" (arXiv:2503.09301).
15:30
Certifying hyperbolicity of fibred 3-manifolds
Abstract
Given a triangulated 3-manifold, can we decide whether it is hyperbolic? In general, no efficient algorithm for answering this question is known; however, the problem becomes more manageable if we restrict our attention to specific classes of 3-manifolds. In this talk, I will discuss how to certify that a triangulated fibred 3-manifold is hyperbolic, in polynomial time in the size of the triangulation and in the Euler characteristic of the fibre. The argument relies on the theory of normal surfaces, as well as several previously known certification algorithms, of which I will give a survey. I will also mention, time permitting, a recent algorithm to decide if an element of the mapping class group of a surface is pseudo-Anosov in polynomial time, which is used in the certification procedure.
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14:00
Conformal welding and probability
Please note: this seminar will be joint with the Mathematics of Random Systems CDT Workshop.
Abstract
Conformal welding, the process of glueing together Riemann surfaces along their boundaries, has recently played a prominent role in probability theory. In this talk, I will discuss two examples, namely the welding associated with random Jordan curves (SLE(k) loops) and particularly their limit as k tends to zero, and the welding of random trees (such as the CRT).
11:00
Superdiffusive Central Limit Theorem for the Stochastic Burgers Equation at the critical dimension
Abstract
The Stochastic Burgers Equation (SBE) was introduced in the eighties by van Beijren, Kutner and Spohn as a mesoscopic model for driven diffusive systems with one conserved scalar quantity. In the subcritical dimension d=1, it coincides with the derivative of the KPZ equation whose large-scale behaviour is polynomially superdiffusive and given by the KPZ Fixed Point, and in the super-critical dimensions d>2, it was recently shown to be diffusive and rescale to an anisotropic Stochastic Heat equation. At the critical dimension d=2, the SBE was conjectured to be logarithmically superdiffusive with a precise exponent but this has only been shown up to lower order corrections. This talk is based on the work joint with Giuseppe Cannizzaro and Fabio Toninelli under the same name https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.00344, where we pin down the logarithmic superdiffusivity by identifying exactly the large-time asymptotic behaviour of the so-called diffusion matrix and show that, once the logarithmic corrections to the scaling are taken into account, the solution of the SBE satisfies a central limit theorem. This is the first superdiffusive scaling limit result for a critical SPDE, beyond the weak coupling regime.
11:00
On statistical stationary solutions to the Schrödinger Map Equation in 1D
Abstract
In this talk, we discuss the existence of statistically stationary solutions to the Schrödinger map equation on a one-dimensional domain, with null Neumann boundary conditions, or on the one-dimensional torus. To approximate the Schrödinger map equation, we employ the stochastic Landau-Lifschitz-Gilbert equation. By a limiting procedure à la Kuksin, we establish existence of a random initial datum, whose distribution is preserved under the dynamic of the deterministic equation. We explore the relationship between the Schrödinger map equation, the binormal curvature flow and the cubic non-linear Schrödinger equation. Additionally, we prove existence of statistically stationary solutions to the binormal curvature flow.[https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.16499]
This is a joint work with Professor M. Hofmanová.
11:00
Hydrodynamic limit of an active-passive lattice gas
Abstract
In this talk, I will discuss a model mixture of active (self-propelled) and passive (diffusive) particles with non-reciprocal effective interactions (or forces that violate Newton’s third law). We derive the hydrodynamic PDE limit for the particle densities, which is not a Wasserstein gradient flow of any free energy, consistent with the microscopic model having non-equilibrium steady states. We study the emergence of collective behaviour, which includes phase separation and dynamical (travelling) steady states.