Mon, 29 Nov 2010
12:00 -
13:00
L3
Generalized Geometry in AdS/CFT and Volume Minimization
Maxime Gabella
(Oxford)
Abstract
Motivated by the study of general supersymmetric AdS_5 solutions of type IIB supergravity with fluxes, I will define a notion of "generalized Sasaki-Einstein geometry," characterized by a differential system for a triple of symplectic forms in 4d. I will then show that the minimization of the contact volume over a space of generalized Sasakian structures determines the Reeb vector field for such a solution. This is the geometric counterpart of a-maximization in superconformal field theory. This variational procedure will be put to good use by computing BPS quantities for a predicted infinite family of solutions dual to mass-deformed generalized conifolds.
Wed, 24 Nov 2010
12:00 -
13:00
L3
Lectures on global Springer theory II
Zhiwei Yun
(MIT)
Abstract
Extend the affine Weyl group action in Lecture I to double affine Hecke algebra action, and (hopefully) more examples.
Tue, 23 Nov 2010
10:00 -
11:00
L3
Lectures on global Springer theory I
Zhiwei Yun
(MIT)
Abstract
Introduce the parabolic Hitchin fibration, construct the affine Weyl group action on its fiberwise cohomology, and study one example.
Tue, 30 Nov 2010
12:00
12:00
L3
Mon, 15 Nov 2010
12:00 -
13:00
L3
The Large Hadron Collider – the story so far
Alan Barr
(Oxford)
Abstract
String theory has a vested interest in a particular S1xS1 object found just outside Geneva. The machine in question has been colliding protons at high energy since March this year, and by now the ATLAS and CMS experiments have clocked up more than 10^12 high-energy events. In this seminar I present the status of the accelerator and detectors, highlight the major physics results obtained so far, and discuss the extent to which information from the LHC can inform us about TeV-scale theory.