Tue, 17 Jun 2025
15:30
L4

Quivers and curves in higher dimensions

Hulya Arguz
(University of Georgia)
Abstract

Quiver Donaldson-Thomas invariants are integers determined by the geometry of moduli spaces of quiver representations. I will describe a correspondence between quiver Donaldson-Thomas invariants and Gromov-Witten counts of rational curves in toric and cluster varieties. This is joint work with Pierrick Bousseau.

Wed, 29 Jan 2025
11:00
L4

Singularity of solutions to singular SPDEs.

Hirotatsu Nagoji
(Kyoto University)
Abstract

In this talk, we discuss the condition for the marginal distribution of the solution to singular SPDEs on the d-dimensional torus to be singular with respect to the law of the Gaussian measure induced by the linearized equation. As applications of our result, we see the singularity of the Phi^4_3-measure with respect to the Gaussian free field measure and the border of parameters for the fractional Phi^4-measure to be singular with respect to the base Gaussian measure. This talk is based on a joint work with Martin Hairer and Seiichiro Kusuoka.

Tue, 21 Jan 2025

14:00 - 15:00
L4

On inapproximability of hypergraph colourings and beyond

Standa Živný
(University of Oxford)
Abstract

I'll discuss how a certain notion of symmetry captures the computational complexity of approximating homomorphism problems between relational structures, also known as constraint satisfaction problems. I'll present recent results on inapproximability of conflict-free and linearly-ordered hypergraph colourings and solvability of systems of equations.

Tue, 11 Feb 2025

14:00 - 15:00
L4

Lower bounds for incidences and Heilbronn's triangle problem

Dmitrii Zakharov
(Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
Abstract

Upper bounds on the number of incidences between points and lines, tubes, and other geometric objects, have many applications in combinatorics and analysis. On the other hand, much less is known about lower bounds. We prove a general lower bound for the number of incidences between points and tubes in the plane under a natural spacing condition. In particular, if you take $n$ points in the unit square and draw a line through each point, then there is a non-trivial point-line pair with distance at most $n^{-2/3+o(1)}$. This quickly implies that any $n$ points in the unit square define a triangle of area at most $n^{-7/6+o(1)}$, giving a new upper bound for the Heilbronn's triangle problem.

Joint work with Alex Cohen and Cosmin Pohoata.

Tue, 11 Feb 2025
15:30
L4

Equivariant Floer theory for symplectic C*-manifolds

Alexander Ritter
(Oxford)
Abstract
The talk will be on recent progress in a series of joint papers with Filip Živanović, about a large class of non-compact symplectic manifolds, which includes semiprojective toric varieties, quiver varieties, and conical symplectic resolutions of singularities. These manifolds admit a Hamiltonian circle action which is part of a pseudo-holomorphic action of a complex torus. The symplectic form on these spaces is highly non-exact, yet we can make sense of Hamiltonian Floer cohomology for functions of the moment map of the circle action. We showed that Floer theory induces a filtration by ideals on quantum cohomology. I will explain recent progress on equivariant Floer cohomology for these spaces, in which case we obtain a filtration on equivariant quantum cohomology. If time permits, I will also mention a presentation of symplectic cohomology and quantum cohomology for semiprojective toric varities.
Tue, 04 Feb 2025
15:30
L4

Global logarithmic deformation theory

Simon Felten
(Oxford)
Abstract

A well-known problem in algebraic geometry is to construct smooth projective Calabi-Yau varieties $Y$. In the smoothing approach, we construct first a degenerate (reducible) Calabi-Yau scheme $V$ by gluing pieces. Then we aim to find a family $f\colon X \to C$ with special fiber $X_0 = f^{-1}(0) \cong V$ and smooth general fiber $X_t = f^{-1}(t)$. In this talk, we see how infinitesimal logarithmic deformation theory solves the second step of this approach: the construction of a family out of a degenerate fiber $V$. This is achieved via the logarithmic Bogomolov-Tian-Todorov theorem as well as its variant for pairs of a log Calabi-Yau space $f_0\colon X_0 \to S_0$ and a line bundle $\mathcal{L}_0$ on $X_0$.

Tue, 11 Mar 2025
15:30
L4

Quiver with potential and attractor invariants

Pierre Descombes
(Imperial College London)
Abstract
Given a quiver (a directed graph) with a potential (a linear combination of cycles), one can study moduli spaces of the associated noncommutative algebra and associate so-called BPS invariants to them. These are interesting because they have a deep link with cluster algebras and provide some kind of noncommutative analogue of DT theory, the study of sheaves on Calabi-Yau 3-folds.
The generating series of BPS invariants for interesting quivers with potentials are in general very wild. However, using the Kontsevich-Soibelman wall-crossing formula, a recursive formula expresses the BPS invariants in terms of so-called attractor invariants, which are expected to be simple in interesting situations. We will discuss them for quivers with potential associated to triangulations of surfaces and quivers with potential giving noncommutative resolutions of CY3 singularities.
Tue, 25 Feb 2025
15:30
L4

The Logarithmic Hilbert Scheme

Patrick Kennedy-Hunt
(Cambridge)
Abstract

I am interested in studying moduli spaces and associated enumerative invariants via degeneration techniques. Logarithmic geometry is a natural language for constructing and studying relevant moduli spaces. In this talk I  will explain the logarithmic Hilbert (or more generally Quot) scheme and outline how the construction helps study enumerative invariants associated to Hilbert/Quot schemes- a story we now understand well. Time permitting, I will discuss some challenges and key insights for studying moduli of stable vector bundles/ sheaves via similar techniques - a theory whose details are still being worked out. 

Tue, 04 Mar 2025
15:30
L4

Mixed characteristic analogues of Du Bois and log canonical singularities

Joe Waldron
(Michigan State University)
Abstract

Singularities are measured in different ways in characteristic zero, positive characteristic, and mixed characteristic. However, classes of singularities usually form analogous groups with similar properties, with an example of such a group being klt, strongly F-regular and BCM-regular.  In this talk we shall focus on newly introduced mixed characteristic counterparts of Du Bois and log canonical singularities and discuss their properties. 

This is joint work with Bhargav Bhatt, Linquan Ma, Zsolt Patakfalvi, Karl Schwede, Kevin Tucker and Jakub Witaszek. 

Tue, 21 Jan 2025
15:30
L4

Deformations and lifts of Calabi-Yau varieties in characteristic p

Lukas Brantner
(Oxford)
Abstract

Derived algebraic geometry allows us to study formal moduli problems via their tangent Lie algebras. After briefly reviewing this general paradigm, I will explain how it sheds light on deformations of Calabi-Yau varieties. 
In joint work with Taelman, we prove a mixed characteristic analogue of the Bogomolov–Tian–Todorov theorem, which asserts that Calabi-Yau varieties in characteristic $0$ are unobstructed. Moreover, we show that ordinary Calabi–Yau varieties in characteristic $p$ admit canonical (and algebraisable) lifts to characteristic $0$, generalising results of Serre-Tate for abelian varieties and Deligne-Nygaard for K3 surfaces. 
If time permits, I will conclude by discussing some intriguing questions related to our canonical lifts.  
 

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