Tue, 27 Oct 2015

14:15 - 15:30
L4

Symplectic resolutions of quiver varieties.

Gwyn Bellamy
(University of Glasgow)
Abstract

Quiver varieties, as introduced by Nakaijma, play a key role in representation theory. They give a very large class of symplectic singularities and, in many cases, their symplectic resolutions too. However, there seems to be no general criterion in the literature for when a quiver variety admits a symplectic resolution. In this talk I will give necessary and sufficient conditions for a quiver variety to admit a symplectic resolution.  This result is based on work of Crawley-Bouvey and of Kaledin, Lehn and Sorger. The talk is based on joint work with T. Schedler.
 

Thu, 19 Nov 2015

12:00 - 13:00
L6

Why gradient flows of some energies good for defect equilibria are not good for dynamics, and an improvement

Amit Acharya
(Carnegie Mellon Univeristy)
Abstract
Straight screw dislocations are line defects in crystalline materials and wedge disclinations are line defects in nematic liquid crystals. In this talk, I will discuss the development and implications of a single pde model intended to describe equilibrium states and dynamics of these defects. These topological defects are classically treated as singularities that result in infinite total energy in bodies of finite extent that behave linearly in their elastic response. I will explain how such singularities can be alleviated by the introduction of an additional 'eigendeformation' field, beyond the fundamental fields of the classical theories involved. The eigendeformation field bears much similarity to gauge fields in high- energy physics, but arises from an entirely different standpoint not involving the notion of gauge invariance in our considerations. It will then be shown that an (L2) gradient flow of a 'canonical', phase- field type (up to details) energy function coupling the deformation to the eigendeformation field that succeeds in predicting the defect equilibrium states of interest necessarily has to fail in predicting particular types of physically important defect dynamics. Instead, a dynamical model based on the same
energy but involving a conservation statement for topological charge of the line defect field for its evolution will be shown to succeed. This is joint work with Chiqun Zhang, graduate student at CMU.
Mon, 16 Nov 2015
14:15
L6

Painlev'e equations, cluster algebras and quantisation

Marta Mazzocco
(Loughborough)
Abstract

The famous Greek astronomer Ptolemy created his well-known table of chords in order to aid his astronomical observations. This table was based on the renowned relation between the four sides and the two diagonals of a quadrilateral whose vertices lie on a common circle.

In 2002, the mathematicians Fomin and Zelevinsky generalised this relation to introduce a new structure called cluster algebra. This is a set of clusters, each cluster made of n numbers called cluster variables. All clusters are obtained from some initial cluster by a sequence of transformations called mutations. Cluster algebras appear in a variety of topics, including total positivity, number theory, Teichm\”uller theory and computer graphics. A quantisation procedure for cluster algebras was proposed by Berenstein and Zelevinsky in 2005.

After introducing the basics about cluster algebras, in this talk we will link cluster algebras to the theory of Painlevé equations. This link will provide the foundations to introduce a new class of cluster algebras of geometric type. We will show that the quantisation of these new cluster algebras provide a geometric setting for the Berenstein–Zelevinsky construction.  

Mon, 26 Oct 2015
14:15
L4

The complex geometry of Teichmüller spaces and bounded symmetric domains.

Stergios Antonakoudis
(Cambridge)
Abstract

From a complex analytic perspective, both Teichmüller spaces and
symmetric spaces can be realised as contractible bounded domains, that
have several features in common but also exhibit many differences. In
this talk we will study isometric maps between these two important
classes of bounded domains equipped with their intrinsic Kobayashi metric.

Wed, 20 Jan 2016
15:00
L4

Multi Party Computation: Low Communication Protocols

Nigel Smart
(University of Bristol)
Abstract

In recent years there has been amazing progress in building
practical protocols for Multi-Party Computation (MPC).
So much progress in fact that there are now a number of
companies producing products utilizing this technology. A major issue with existing solutions is the high round
complexity of protocols involving more than two players. In this talk I will survey the main protocols for MPC
and recent ideas in how to obtain practical low round
complexity protocols.

Thu, 03 Dec 2015

12:00 - 13:00
L6

Weak solutions to the Navier-Stokes initial boundary value problem in exterior domains with initial data in L(3,∞)

Paolo Maremonti
(Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli)
Abstract

We consider the Navier-Stokes initial boundary value problem (NS-IBVP) in a smooth exterior domain. We are interested in establishing existence of weak solutions (we mean weak solutions as synonym of solutions global in time) with an initial data in L(3,∞)

(Lorentz space). Apart from its own analytical interest, the research is connected with questions related to the space-time asymptotic properties of solutions to the NS-IBVP. However these questions are not discussed. The assumption on the initial data in L(3,∞) cuts the L2-theory out, which is the unique known for weak solutions. We find a simple strategy to bypass the difficulties of an initial data /∈ L2, and we take care to perform the same “regularity properties” of Leary’s weak solutions, hence to furnish a structure theorem of a weak solution.
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