Tue, 14 May 2024

14:00 - 15:00
L5

Deformations of q-symmetric algebras and log symplectic varieties

Travis Schedler
(Imperial College, London)
Abstract

We consider quadratic deformations of the q-symmetric algebras A_q given by x_i x_j = q_{ij} x_j x_i, for q_{ij} in C*.   We explicitly describe the Hochschild cohomology and compute the weights of the torus action (dilating the x_i variables). We describe new families of filtered deformations of A_q, which are Koszul and Calabi—Yau algebras. This also applies to abelian category deformations of coh(P^n), and for n=3 we give examples having no homogeneous coordinate ring.  We then focus on the case where n is even and the deformations are obtainable from deformation quantisation of toric log symplectic structures on P^n.  In this case we construct formally universal families of quadratic algebras deforming A_q, obtained by tensoring filtered deformations and FeiginOdesskii elliptic algebras. The universality is a consequence of a beautiful combinatorial classification of deformations via "smoothing diagrams", a collection of disjoint cycles and segments in the complete graph on n vertices, viewed as the dual complex for the coordinate hyperplanes in P^{n-1}.  Already for n=5 there are 40 of these, mostly entirely new. Our proof also applies to deformations of Poisson structures, recovering the P^n case of our previous results on general log symplectic varieties with normal crossings divisors, which motivated this project.  This is joint work with Mykola Matviichuk and Brent Pym.

Tue, 07 May 2024
11:00
L5

Transportation-cost inequalities for nonlinear Gaussian functionals

Ioannis Gasteratos
(Imperial College, London)
Abstract

In this talk, we study concentration properties for laws of non-linear Gaussian functionals on metric spaces. Our focus lies on measures with non-Gaussian tail behaviour which are beyond the reach of Talagrand’s classical Transportation-Cost Inequalities (TCIs). Motivated by solutions of Rough Differential Equations and relying on a suitable contraction principle, we prove generalised TCIs for functionals that arise in the theory of regularity structures and, in particular, in the cases of rough volatility and the two-dimensional Parabolic Anderson Model. Our work also extends existing results on TCIs for diffusions driven by Gaussian processes.

Fri, 02 Feb 2024

12:00 - 13:00
Quillen Room

Standard Majorana representations of 3-transposition groups

Albert Gevorgyan
(Imperial College, London)
Abstract

The Monster group M is the largest sporadic simple group. It is also the group of automorphisms of 196, 884-dimensional Fischer-Norton-Griess algebra V_M. In 2009, A. A. Ivanov offered an axiomatic approach to studying the structure of V_M by introducing the notions of Majorana algebra and Majorana representation. Later, the theory developed, and Majorana representations of several groups were constructed. Our talk is dedicated to the existence of standard Majorana representations of 3-transposition groups for the Fischer list. The main result is that the groups from the Fischer list which admit a standard Majorana representation can be embedded into the Monster group.

Tue, 13 Jun 2023
15:30
L1

Computing vertical Vafa-Witten invariants

Noah Arbesfeld
(Imperial College, London)
Abstract

I'll present a computation in the algebraic approach to Vafa-Witten invariants of projective surfaces, as introduced by Tanaka-Thomas. The invariants are defined by integration over moduli spaces of stable Higgs pairs on surfaces and are formed from contributions of components. The physical notion of S-duality translates to conjectural symmetries between these contributions.  One component, the "vertical" component, is a nested Hilbert scheme on a surface. I'll explain work in preparation with M. Kool and T. Laarakker in which we express invariants of this component in terms of a certain quiver variety, the instanton moduli space of torsion-free framed sheaves on $\mathbb{P}^2$. Using a recent identity of Kuhn-Leigh-Tanaka, we deduce constraints on Vafa-Witten invariants conjectured by Göttsche-Kool-Laarakker. One consequence is a formula for the contribution of the vertical component to refined Vafa-Witten invariants in rank 2.

Thu, 21 Feb 2019
17:00
L5

Actions of automorphism groups of omega-categorical structures on compact spaces

David Evans
(Imperial College, London)
Abstract

If G is a topological group, a G-flow X is a non-empty, compact, Hausdorff space on which G acts continuously; it is minimal if all G-orbits are dense. By a theorem of Ellis, there is a (unique) minimal G-flow M(G) which is universal: there is a continuous G-map to every other G-flow. 

Here, we will be interested in the case where G = Aut(K) for some structure K, usually omega-categorical. Work of Kechris, Pestov and Todorcevic and others gives conditions on K under which structural Ramsey Theory (due to Nesetril - Rodl and others) can be used to compute M(G). 

In the first part of the talk I will give a description of the above theory and when it applies (the 'tame case'). In the second part, I will describe joint work with J. Hubicka and J. Nesetril which shows that the omega-categorical structures constructed in the late 1980's by Hrushovski as counterexamples to Lachlan's conjecture are not tame and moreover, minimal flows of their automorphism groups have rather different properties to those in the tame case. 

Thu, 15 Feb 2018
12:00
L5

Stability, mixing, and stochastics in hydrodynamics

Michele Coti Zelati
(Imperial College, London)
Abstract

The basic mathematical models that describe the behavior of fluid flows date back to the eighteenth century, and yet many phenomena observed in experiments are far from being well understood from a theoretical viewpoint. For instance, especially challenging is the study of fundamental stability mechanisms when weak dissipative forces (generated, for example, by molecular friction) interact with advection processes, such as mixing and stirring. The goal of this talk is to have an overview on recent results on a variety of aspects related to hydrodynamic stability, such as the stability of vortices and laminar flows, the enhancement of dissipative force via mixing, and the statistical description of turbulent flows.

Thu, 08 Feb 2018
16:00
L6

Serre's uniformity question and the Chabauty-Kim method

Netan Dogra
(Imperial College, London)
Abstract

Serre's uniformity question concerns the possible ways the Galois group of Q can act on the p-torsion of an elliptic curve over Q. In this talk I will survey what is known about this question, and describe two recent results related to the Chabauty-Kim method. The first, which is joint work with Jennifer Balakrishnan, Steffen Muller, Jan Tuitman and Jan Vonk, completes the classification of elliptic curves over Q with split Cartan level structure. The second, which is work in progress with Samuel Le Fourn, Samir Siksek and Jan Vonk, concerns the applicability of the Chabauty-Kim method in determining the elliptic curves with non-split Cartan level structure.
 

Thu, 22 Feb 2018
16:00
L6

Potential modularity of abelian surfaces

Toby Gee
(Imperial College, London)
Abstract

I will give a gentle introduction to joint work in progress with George Boxer, Frank Calegari, and Vincent Pilloni, in which we prove that all abelian surfaces over totally real fields are potentially modular. We also prove that infinitely many abelian surfaces over Q are modular.

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