Mon, 17 Feb 2020
14:15
L4

Twisted indices of 3d supersymmetric gauge theories and enumerative geometry of quasi-maps

Heeyeon Kim
(Oxford)
Abstract

I will discuss the geometric interpretation of the twisted index of 3d supersymmetric gauge theories on a closed Riemann surface. In the first part of the talk, I will show that the twisted index computes the virtual Euler characteristic of the moduli space of solutions to vortex equations on the Riemann surface, which can be understood algebraically as quasi-maps to the Higgs branch. I will explain 3d N=4 mirror symmetry in this context, which implies non-trivial relations between enumerative invariants associated to these moduli spaces. Finally, I will present a wall-crossing formula for these invariants derived from the gauge theory point of view.
 

Thu, 05 Dec 2019

14:00 - 15:00
C4

Algebraic K-theory

Nadav Gropper
Abstract

In the talk we will define higher K-groups, and explain some of their relations to number theory

Thu, 06 Feb 2020

16:00 - 17:00
L4

Eigenvector overlaps of random matrices and financial applications

Jean Philippe Bouchaud
(CFM & Ecole Polytechnique)
Abstract

Whereas the spectral properties of random matrices has been the subject of numerous studies and is well understood, the statistical properties of the corresponding eigenvectors has only been investigated in the last few years. We will review several recent results and emphasize their importance for cleaning empirical covariance matrices, a subject of great importance for financial applications.

 

Thu, 13 Feb 2020

17:00 - 18:00
L1

Oxford Mathematics Public Lecture: Ian Griffiths - Cheerios, iPhones and Dysons: going backwards in time with fluid mechanics

Ian Griffiths
(University of Oxford)
Further Information

How do you make a star-shaped Cheerio? How do they make the glass on your smartphone screen so flat? And how can you make a vacuum filter that removes the most dust before it blocks? All of these are very different challenges that fall under the umbrella of industrial mathematics. While each of these questions might seem very different, they all have a common theme: we know the final properties of the product we want to make and need to come up with a way of manufacturing this. In this talk we show how we can use mathematics to start with the final desired product and trace the fluid dynamics problem ‘back in time’ to enable us to manufacture products that would otherwise be impossible to produce.

Ian Griffiths is a Professor of Industrial Mathematics and a Royal Society University Research Fellow in the Mathematical Institute at the University of Oxford. 

Please email @email to register.

Watch live:
https://www.facebook.com/OxfordMathematics/
https://livestream.com/oxuni/Griffiths

The Oxford Mathematics Public Lectures are generously supported by XTX Markets.

 

 

 

Thu, 14 Nov 2019
13:00

Mathematics of communication

Head of Heilbronn Institute
(Heilbronn Institute)
Abstract

In the twentieth century we leant that the theory of communication is a mathematical theory. Mathematics is able to add to the value of data, for example by removing redundancy (compression) or increasing robustness (error correction). More famously mathematics can add value to data in the presence of an adversary which is my personal definition of cryptography. Cryptographers talk about properties of confidentiality, integrity, and authentication, though modern cryptography also facilitates transparency (distributed ledgers), plausible deniability (TrueCrypt), and anonymity (Tor).
Modern cryptography faces new design challenges as people demand more functionality from data. Some recent requirements include homomorphic encryption, efficient zero knowledge proofs for smart contracting, quantum resistant cryptography, and lightweight cryptography. I'll try and cover some of the motivations and methods for these.
 

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