Wed, 20 May 2026
16:00
L4

On Virtual Representations of Finite Chevalley Groups in Defining Characteristic

Roman Bezrukavnikov
(MIT)
Abstract

Let G be a finite Chevalley group, i.e., the group of F_q points of a reductive group over F_q. Virtual representations of G in defining characteristic can be constructed in two ways, either by Brauer-Nesbitt reduction of complex representations, or by restricting an algebraic representation. G. Lusztig conjectured the shape of formulas connecting the two procedures; I will discuss a realization of his proposal related to decomposition of the class of diagonal for G/B coming from summands in the push-forward of the structure sheaf under Frobenius. 

Time permitting I will discuss a different, unrelated at present, way to describe such virtual representations linking it to homology of an affine Springer fiber. This found application in the work of Tony Feng and Viet Bao Le Hung on Breuil-Mezard conjectures. 

Based on joint works with Finkelberg, Kazhdan and Morton-Ferguson and with Boixeda Alvarez, McBreen and Yun respectively.

Mon, 25 May 2026
14:15
L4

Positivity in weighted flag varieties

Bill Graham
(University of Georgia)
Abstract

Weighted flag varieties are generalizations of flag varieties and weighted projective spaces.  Although they are not usually homogeneous varieties, they are orbifolds and admit a torus action with isolated fixed points, and like ordinary flag varieties, their equivariant cohomology admits a Schubert basis.  This talk will be an introduction to weighted flag varieties, and will also discuss positivity.  Abe and Matsumura proved that the equivariant cohomology of weighted Grassmannians has a positivity property analogous to that for ordinary (non-weighted) flag varieties.  We prove a strengthened version of this result for arbitrary weighted flag varieties, along the way providing a geometric interpretation of the weighted roots of Abe and Matsumura.  This is joint work with Scott Larson.

Tue, 12 May 2026
15:30
L4

A generalization of elliptic curves to higher dimensions

Valery Alexeev
(University of Georgia)
Abstract
Of course, there are many generalizations of elliptic curves. The one we consider here is a certain class of n-dimensional Calabi-Yau hypersurfaces in a weighted projective space, naturally associated with the Sylvester sequence $2,3,7,43,...,s_n$. The moduli space of such hypersurfaces is a weighted projective space itself. The case of $n=1$ for the Sylvester numbers 2,3 is the familiar case of elliptic curves in the Weierstrass form, and its compactified moduli space is the weighted projective line $P(4,6)$. 
 
For any n, we prove that the moduli space of pairs $(X,D)$ of such Calabi-Yau hypersurfaces $X$ augmented with a hyperplane $D$ at infinity is a connected component of the KSBA moduli space of stable pairs. A side result is a generalization of the theory of elliptic surfaces to higher dimensions. Based on https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.16562.
Mon, 15 Jun 2026
14:15
L4

TBA

Partha Ghosh
(IMJ-PRG/Sorbonne Université)
Fri, 27 Mar 2026
16:00
L4

On indefinite ternary quadratic forms

Peter Sarnak
(IAS Princeton)
Abstract

We describe the solution to two problems concerning indefinite integral ternary quadratic forms. The first about anisotropic forms was popularized by Margulis following his solution of the Oppenheim Conjecture. The second about the density of isotropic forms was raised by Serre. Joint work with A. Gamburd, A. Ghosh and J. Whang.

Tue, 02 Jun 2026
16:00
L4

One-sided Problems in Fourier Analysis

Bartosz Malman
(Mälardalen University)
Abstract

In the context of Fourier analysis on the real line, a \textit{one-sided problem} involves deducing properties of a function $f$ from some information about the restriction of its Fourier transform $\widehat{f}$ to a half-line, for instance to $\mathbb{R}_- := (-\infty, 0)$. A prototypical result, which is foundational to the theory of Hardy spaces on $\mathbb{R}$, asserts that if $f \in L^2(\mathbb{R})$ is non-zero and $\widehat{f}$ vanishes on a half-line, then $f$ satisfies the \textit{Szeg\H{o} condition} $\int_{-\infty}^\infty \frac{\log |f(x)|}{1+x^2} \, dx > -\infty$. 

Various problems in operator theory involve the study of functions $f$ satisfying a weaker condition of decay of $\widehat{f}$ on a half-line. In this setting, simple examples show that the Szeg\H{o} condition need not be satisfied. However, the following local Szeg\H{o}-type conditions hold: if the decay of $\widehat{f}$ is strong enough on a half-line, then the mass of the function $f \in L^2(\mathbb{R})$ must concentrate enough for the integral $\int_E \log |f(x)| dx$ to converge on a "massive" set $E$. 

In his talk, Bartosz Malman will describe this mass condensation phenomenon and its applications to operator-theoretic problems.

Wed, 20 May 2026
15:00
L4

Quantitative Orbit Equivalence for $\mathbb{Z}$-odometers

Spyridon Petrakos
(Gothenberg)
Abstract

It is known for a long time, due to a celebrated theorem of Ornstein and Weiss, that (classical/plain) orbit equivalence offers no information about ergodic probability measure preserving actions of amenable groups. On the other hand, conjugacy is too intractable, and effectively hopeless to study in full generality. Quantitative orbit equivalence aims to bridge this gap by adding intermediate layers of rigidity— a strategy that has borne fruit already in the late 1960s but was used as a general framework only semi-recently. In this talk, Spyridon Petrakos will introduce aspects of quantitative orbit equivalence and present a complete picture of it for integer odometers. This is joint work with Petr Naryshkin.

Wed, 25 Mar 2026

11:00 - 13:00
L4

Large-N Methods and Renormalisation Group

Léonard Ferdinand
(Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences )
Abstract

I will review how the large N expansion can be used in the context of the renormalisation group to probe some strongly coupled regimes. In particular, I will discuss a work by Gawedzki and Kupiainen where the authors study the three-dimensional non-Gaussian infrared fixed point of Phi^4 in the case of a hierarchical model of rank-one covariance, and explain how their approach could generalise to more realistic models. 

This is a joint work with Ajay Chandra.  

Tue, 28 Apr 2026
15:30
L4

Formal integration of derived foliations

Lukas Brantner
(Oxford)
Abstract

Frobenius’ theorem in differential geometry asserts that, given a smooth manifold $M,$ every involutive subbundle $E \subset T_M$ determines a decomposition of $M$ into smooth leaves tangent to $E$. I will explain an infinitesimal analogue of this integration phenomenon for suitably nice schemes over coherent base rings, and then discuss an application. This talk is based on joint work with Magidson and Nuiten and ties into the work of Jiaqi Fu.

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