14:00
14:00
Reconstruction Algebras for two-dimensional quotient singularities
Abstract
I will describe how to build a noncommutative ring which dictates
the process of resolving certain two-dimensional quotient singularities.
Algebraically this corresponds to generalizing the preprojective algebra of
an extended Dynkin quiver to a larger class of geometrically useful
noncommutative rings. I will explain the representation theoretic properties
of these algebras, with motivation from the geometry.
11:00
Quasi-local energy-momentum and flux for black holes
Abstract
In this talk I will look at a definition of the energy-momentum for the dynamical horizon of a black hole. The talk will begin by examining the role of a special class of observers at null infinity determined by Bramson's concept of frame alignment. It is shown how this is given in terms of asymptotically constant spinor fields and how this framework may be used together with the Nester-Witten two form to give a definition of the Bondi mass at null infinity.
After reviewing Ashtekar's concept of an isolated horizon we will look at the propagation of spinor fields and show how to introduce spinor fields for the horizon which play the role of the asymptotically constant spinor fields at null infinity, giving a concept of alignment of frames on the horizon. It turns out that the equations satisfied by these spinor fields give precisely the Dougan-Mason holomorphic condition on the cross sections of the horizon, together with a simple propagation equation along the generators. When combined with the Nester-Witten 2-form these equations give a quasi-local definition of the mass and momentum of the black hole, as well as a formula for the flux across the horizon. These ideas are then generalised to the case of a dynamical horizon and the results compared to those obtained by Ashtekar as well as to the known answers for a number of exact solutions.
Floer cohomology of Lagrangian spheres in symplectic manifolds
Abstract
I will associate, to every pair of smooth transversal
Lagrangian spheres in a symplectic manifold having vanishing first Chern
class, its Floer cohomology groups. Hamiltonian isotopic spheres give
rise to isomorphic groups. In order to define these Floer cohomology
groups, I will make a key use of symplectic field theory.
On a conjecture of Foulkes
Abstract
For the integers $a$ and $b$ let $P(a^b)$ be all partitions of the
set $N= {1,..., ab}$ into parts of size $a.$ Further, let
$\mathbb{C}P (a^b)$ be the corresponding permutation module for the
symmetric group acting on $N.$ A conjecture of Foulkes says
that $\mathbb{C}P (a^b)$ is isomorphic to a submodule of $\mathbb{C}P
(b^a)$ for all $a$ not larger than $b.$ The conjecture goes back to
the 1950's but has remained open. Nevertheless, for some values of
$b$ there has been progress. I will discuss some proofs and further
conjectures. There is a close correspondence between the
representations of the symmetric groups and those of the general
linear groups, via Schur-Weyl duality. Foulkes' conjecture therefore
has implications for $GL$-representations. There are interesting
connections to classical invariant theory which I hope to mention.
13:30
Annihilators of permutation modules
Abstract
The representation theory of symmetric groups starts with
the permutation modules. It turns out that the annihilator of a
permutation module can be described explicitly in terms of the
combinatorics of Murphy's cellular basis of the group algebra of the
symmetric group in question. In fact, we will show that the
annihilator is always a cell ideal. This is recent joint work with K.
Nyman.
14:15
Schanuel's conjecture and dimension theory
Abstract
I will push Schanuel's conjecture in four directions: defining a dimension
theory (pregeometry), blurred exponential functions, exponential maps of
more general groups, and converses. The goal is to explain how Zilber's
conjecture on complex exponentiation is true at least in a "geometric"
sense, and how this can be proved without solving the difficult number
theoretic conjectures. If time permits, I will explain some connections
with diophantine geometry.
10:00
The classificatiion of structures interpretable in o-minimal theories
Abstract
We survey the classification of structures interpretable in o-minimal theories in terms of thorn-minimal types. We show that a necessary and sufficient condition for such a structure to interpret a real closed field is that it has a non-locally modular unstable type. We also show that assuming Zilber's Trichotomy for strongly minimal sets interpretable in o-minimal theories, such a structure interprets a pure algebraically closed field iff it has a global stable non-locally modular type. Finally, if time allows, we will discuss reasons to believe in Zilber's Trichotomy in the present context