Mon, 16 Feb 2009

12:00 - 13:00
L3

Yukawa Couplings from Monad Bundles

Andre Lukas
(Oxford)
Abstract
We present a straightforward, algebraic method for calculating the Yukawa couplings of a large class of non-standard embedding heterotic compactifications on Calabi-Yau threefolds. Our methodology covers, although is not restricted to, the positive monads over complete intersection Calabi-Yau manifolds. The algorithm involves the manipulation of polynomials and can be straightforwardly implemented on a computer. We present explicit examples and show how models with one Higgs multiplet and a rank-one mass matrix can be engineered.
Tue, 10 Feb 2009

14:30 - 15:30
L3

The scaling limit of critical random graphs

Christina Goldschmidt
(Oxford)
Abstract

Consider the Erdos-Renyi random graph $G(n,p)$ inside the critical window, so that $p = n^{-1} + \lambda n^{-4/3}$ for some real \lambda. In

this regime, the largest components are of size $n^{2/3}$ and have finite surpluses (where the surplus of a component is the number of edges more than a tree that it has). Using a bijective correspondence between graphs and certain "marked random walks", we are able to give a (surprisingly simple) metric space description of the scaling limit of the ordered sequence of components, where edges in the original graph are re-scaled by $n^{-1/3}$. A limit component, given its size and surplus, is obtained by taking a continuum random tree (which is not a Brownian continuum random tree, but one whose distribution has been exponentially tilted) and making certain natural vertex identifications, which correspond to the surplus edges. This gives a metric space in which distances are calculated using paths in the original tree and the "shortcuts" induced by the vertex identifications. The limit of the whole critical random graph is then a collection of such

metric spaces. The convergence holds in a sufficiently strong sense (an appropriate version of the Gromov-Hausdorff distance) that we are able to deduce the convergence in distribution of the diameter of $G(n,p)$, re-scaled by $n^{-1/3}$, to a non-degenerate random variable, for $p$ in the critical window.

This is joint work (in progress!) with Louigi Addario-Berry (Universite de Montreal) and Nicolas Broutin (INRIA Rocquencourt).

Mon, 02 Feb 2009

12:00 - 13:00
L3

AdS/CFT and Generalized Complex Geometry

Maxime Gabella
(Oxford)
Abstract
We use generalized complex geometry to study the AdS/CFT correspondence in type IIB string theory.
Mon, 26 Jan 2009

12:00 - 13:00
L3

Black branes beyond thermal equilibrium

Andrei Starinets
(Oxford)
Abstract
Gauge-string duality relates transport properties of certain strongly interacting quantum field theories at finite temperature/density to spectra of normal modes of black branes in dual supergravity backgrounds. The duality serves as a source of quantitative information about the physics of strongly coupled relativistic plasmas as well as a source of qualitative insights into the properties of nuclear matter created in heavy ion collision experiments. It may also help to understand non-equilibrium behavior of black holes/branes. We reflect on recent progress in this field.
Mon, 09 Mar 2009
15:45
L3

The maximal number of exceptional Dehn surgeries

Marc Lackenby
(Oxford)
Abstract

I will outline the proof of two old conjectures of Cameron Gordon. The first states that the maximal number of exceptional Dehn surgeries on a 1-cusped hyperbolic 3-manifold is 10. The second states the maximal distance between exceptional Dehn surgeries on a 1-cusped hyperbolic 3-manifold is 8. The proof uses a combination of new geometric techniques and rigorous computer-assisted calculations.

This is joint work with Rob Meyerhoff.

Tue, 27 Jan 2009

15:45 - 16:45
L3

Hamiltonian stationary submanifolds of compact symplectic manifolds

Dominic Joyce
(Oxford)
Abstract
Let $(M,\omega)$ be a symplectic manifold, and $g$ a Riemannian metric on $M$ compatible with $\omega$. If $L$ is a compact Lagrangian submanifold of $(M,\omega)$, we can compute the volume Vol$(L)$ of $L$ using $g$. A Lagrangian $L$ is called {\it Hamiltonian stationary} if it is a stationary point of the volume functional amongst Lagrangians Hamiltonian isotopic to $L$.

Suppose $L'$ is a compact Lagrangian in ${\mathbb C}^n$ which is Hamiltonian stationary and {\it rigid}, that is, all infinitesimal Hamiltonian deformations of $L$ as a Hamiltonian stationary Lagrangian come from rigid motions of ${\mathbb C}^n$. An example of such $L'$ is the $n$-torus $ \bigl\{(z_1,\ldots,z_n)\in{\mathbb C}^n:\vert z_1\vert=a_1, \ldots,\vert z_n\vert=a_n\bigr\}$, for small $a_1,\ldots,a_n>0$.

I will explain a construction of Hamiltonian stationary Lagrangians in any compact symplectic manifold $(M,\omega)$, which works by `gluing in' $tL'$ near a point $p$ in $M$ for small $t>0$.

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