Thu, 07 Mar 2024

17:00 - 18:00

Some applications of motivic integration in group theory and arithmetic geometry

Itay Glazer
(University of Oxford)
Abstract
Let f:X-->Y be a polynomial map between smooth varieties, and let mu be a smooth, compactly supported measure on X(F), where F is a local field. An interesting phenomenon is that bad singularities of f manifest themselves in poor analytic behavior of the pushforward f_*(mu) of mu by f. 
I will discuss this phenomenon in two settings; the first is when f:A^n-->A^m is a polynomial map between affine spaces and mu is the Haar measure on Z_p^n, and the second is when f:G^2-->G is a word map (e.g. the commutator map (g,h)-->ghg^(-1)h^(-1)) between simple algebraic groups, and mu is a Haar measure on G(Z_p). 
In these cases (and in other "real life situations"), mu and consequently f_*(mu) are constructible measures in the sense of Cluckers-Loeser motivic integration. We utilize this fact to show that the analytic behavior of f_*(mu) cannot be too bad, leading to geometric and probabilistic applications.
 
Based on joint works with Yotam Hendel and Raf Cluckers.
Thu, 29 Feb 2024

17:00 - 18:00

Omega-categorical groups and Lie algebras

Christian d'Elbée
(School of Mathematics, University of Leeds)
Abstract

A structure is omega-categorical if its theory has a unique countable model (up to isomorphism). We will survey some old results concerning the Apps-Wilson structure theory for omega-categorical groups and state a conjecture of Wilson from the 80s on omega-categorical characteristically simple groups. We will also discuss the analogous of Wilson’s conjecture for Lie algebras and present some connections with the restricted Burnside problem.

Thu, 15 Feb 2024

17:00 - 18:00

On logical structure of physical theories and limits

Boris Zilber
(University of Oxford)
Abstract

I am going to discuss main results of my paper "Physics over a finite field and Wick rotation", arxiv 2306.15698. It introduces a structure over a pseudo-finite field which might be of interest in Foundations of Physics. The main theorem establishes an analogue of the polar co-ordinate system in the pseudo-finite field. A stability classification status of the structure is an open question.

Mon, 10 Jun 2024
14:15
L4

Verlinde formulas on surfaces

Lothar Gottsche
(ICTP Trieste)
Abstract

Let $S$ be a smooth projective surface with $p_g>0$ and $H^1(S,{\mathbb Z})=0$. 
We consider the moduli spaces $M=M_S^H(r,c_1,c_2)$ of $H$-semistable sheaves on $S$ of rank $r$ and 
with Chern classes $c_1,c_2$. Associated a suitable class $v$ the Grothendieck group of vector bundles
on $S$ there is a deteminant line bundle $\lambda(v)\in Pic(M)$, and also a tautological sheaf $\tau(v)$ on $M$.

In this talk we derive a conjectural generating function for the virtual Verlinde numbers, i.e. the virtual holomorphic 
Euler characteristics of all determinant bundles $\lambda(v)$ on M, and for Segre invariants associated to $\tau(v)$ . 
The argument is based on conjectural blowup formulas and a virtual version of Le Potier's strange duality. 
Time permitting we also sketch a common refinement of these two conjectures, and their proof for Hilbert schemes of points.
 

Thu, 21 Mar 2024

16:00 - 17:00
C2

Biexact von Neumann algebras

Changying Ding
(UCLA)
Abstract

The notion of biexactness for groups was introduced by Ozawa in 2004 and has since become a major tool used for studying solidity of von Neumann algebras. We introduce the notion of biexactness for von Neumann algebras, which allows us to place many previous solidity results in a more systematic context, and naturally leads to extensions of these results. We will also discuss examples of solid factors that are not biexact. This is a joint work with Jesse Peterson.

Our second 'Show Me the Maths' film features Josh Bull from the Wolfson Centre for Mathematical Biology on the South Side, 4th floor. If you haven't been up there the view is terrific, including from the outside walkway. You can also help them out with their jigsaw by the sofas which doesn't seem to be making much progress.

Professor Geoffrey Hinton - Will digital intelligence replace biological intelligence?

Widely known as the “Godfather of AI”, Geoffrey Hinton was one of the researchers who introduced the backpropagation algorithm and the first to use backpropagation for learning word embeddings. His other contributions to neural network research include Boltzmann machines, distributed representations, time-delay neural nets, mixtures of experts, variational learning and deep learning.

To celebrate International Women’s Day the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Irene Tracey, will host a discussion on artificial intelligence on Wednesday 6 March, 2-4pm at Pembroke College and online via Zoom, featuring panellists from across the University. 

The panel will share their views on making AI a force for gender equality and inclusion. 

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