Mon, 20 Feb 2023
15:45

Factorization homology of braided tensor categories

Adrien Brochier
(Paris)
Abstract

Factorization homology is an arguably abstract formalism which produces
well-behaved topological invariants out of certain "higher algebraic"
structures. In this talk, I'll explain how this formalism can be made
fairly concrete in the case where this input algebraic structure is a
braided tensor category. If the category at hand is semi-simple, this in
fact essentially recovers skein categories and skein algebras. I'll
present various applications of this formalism to quantum topology and
representation theory.
 

Thu, 13 Feb 2020
11:30
C4

Cardinal invariants and model-theoretic tree properties

Nick Ramsey
(Paris)
Abstract


 In Classification Theory, Shelah defined several cardinal invariants of a complete theory which detect the presence of certain trees among the definable sets, which in turn quantify the complexity of forking.  In later model-theoretic developments, local versions of these invariants were recognized as marking important dividing lines - e.g. simplicity and NTP2.  Around these dividing lines, a dichotomy theorem of Shelah states that a theory has the tree property if and only if it is witnessed in one of two extremal forms--the tree property of the first or second kind--and it was asked if there is a 'quantitative' analogue of this dichotomy in the form of a certain equation among these invariants.  We will describe these model-theoretic invariants and explain why the quantitative version of the dichotomy fails, via a construction that relies upon some unexpected tools from combinatorial set theory. 

 

Mon, 28 Jan 2019

14:15 - 15:15
L3

Recent progress in 2-dimensional quantum Yang-Mills theory

THIERRY LEVY
(Paris)
Abstract

Quantum Yang-Mills theory is an important part of the Standard model built by physicists to describe elementary particles and their interactions. One approach to the mathematical substance of this theory consists in constructing a probability measure on an infinite-dimensional space of connections on a principal bundle over space-time. However, in the physically realistic 4-dimensional situation, the construction of this measure is still an open mathematical problem. The subject of this talk will be the physically less realistic 2-dimensional situation, in which the construction of the measure is possible, and fairly well understood.

In probabilistic terms, the 2-dimensional Yang-Mills measure is the distribution of a stochastic process with values in a compact Lie group (for example the unitary group U(N)) indexed by the set of continuous closed curves with finite length on a compact surface (for example a disk, a sphere or a torus) on which one can measure areas. It can be seen as a Brownian motion (or a Brownian bridge) on the chosen compact Lie group indexed by closed curves, the role of time being played in a sense by area.

In this talk, I will describe the physical context in which the Yang-Mills measure is constructed, and describe it without assuming any prior familiarity with the subject. I will then present a set of results obtained in the last few years by Antoine Dahlqvist, Bruce Driver, Franck Gabriel, Brian Hall, Todd Kemp, James Norris and myself concerning the limit as N tends to infinity of the Yang-Mills measure constructed with the unitary group U(N). 

 

Thu, 26 Apr 2018

16:00 - 17:30
L4

Lévy forward price approach for multiple yield curves in presence of persistently low and negative interest rates

Zorana Grbac
(Paris)
Abstract

In this talk we present a framework for discretely compounding
interest rates which is based on the forward price process approach.
This approach has a number of advantages, in particular in the current
market environment. Compared to the classical Libor market models, it
allows in a natural way for negative interest rates and has superb
calibration properties even in the presence of persistently low rates.
Moreover, the measure changes along the tenor structure are simplified
significantly. This property makes it an excellent base for a
post-crisis multiple curve setup. Two variants for multiple curve
constructions will be discussed.

As driving processes we use time-inhomogeneous Lévy processes, which
lead to explicit valuation formulas for various interest rate products
using well-known Fourier transform techniques. Based on these formulas
we present calibration results for the two model variants using market
data for caps with Bachelier implied volatilities.

Thu, 30 Apr 2015

12:00 - 13:00
L6

Construction of a macroscopic model of phase-transformation for the modeling of superelastic Shape Memory Alloys

Kim Pham
(Paris)
Abstract
Shape Memory Alloys (SMA) e.g. NiTi display a superelastic behavior at high temperature. Initially in a stable austenite phase, SMA can transform into an oriented martensite phase under an applied mechanical loading. After an unloading, the material recovers its initial stress-free state with no residual strain. Such loading cycle leads to an hysteresis loop in the stress-strain diagram that highlights the dissipated energy for having transformed the material. 
In a rate-independent context, we first show how a material stability criterion allows to construct a local one-dimensional phase transformation model. Such models relies on a unique scalar internal variable related to the martensite volume fraction. Evolution problem at the structural scale is then formulated in a variational way by means of two physical principles: a stability criterion based on the local minima of the total energy and an energy balance condition. We show how such framework allows to handle softening behavior and its compatibility with a regularization based on gradient of the internal variable.
We then extend such model to a more general three dimensional case by introducing a tensorial internal variable. We derive the evolution laws from the stability criterion and energy balance condition. Second order conditions are presented. Illustrations of the features of such model are shown on different examples. 
 
Tue, 03 Jun 2014

15:45 - 16:45
L4

Recent directions in derived geometry

Gabriele Vezzosi
(Paris)
Abstract

We will give an idea of derived algebraic geometry and sketch a number of more or less recent directions, including derived symplectic geometry, derived Poisson structures, quantizations of moduli spaces, derived analytic geometry, derived logarithmic geometry and derived quadratic structures.

Thu, 29 Nov 2012

17:00 - 18:00
L3

Valued difference fields and NTP2

Martin Hils
(Paris)
Abstract

(Joint work with Artem Chernikov.) In the talk, we will first recall some basic results on valued difference fields, both from an algebraic and from a model-theoretic point of view. In particular, we will give a description, due to Hrushovski, of the theory VFA of the non-standard Frobenius acting on an algebraically closed valued field of residue characteristic 0, as well as an Ax-Kochen-Ershov type result for certain valued difference fields which was proved by Durhan. We will then present a recent work where it is shown that VFA does not have the tree property of the second kind (i.e., is NTP2); more generally, in the context of the Ax-Kochen-Ershov principle mentioned above, the valued difference field is NTP2 iff both the residue difference field and the value difference group are NTP2. The property NTP2 had already been introduced by Shelah in 1980, but only recently it has been shown to provide a fruitful ‘tameness’ assumption, e.g. when dealing with independence notions in unstable NIP theories (work of Chernikov-Kaplan).

Wed, 14 Mar 2012

14:00 - 15:00
L2

(HoRSe seminar) Defining the refined vertex using equivariant K-theory I

Nikita Nekrasov
(Paris)
Abstract

String theory derives the features of the quantum field theory describing the gauge interactions between the elementary particles in four spacetime dimensions from the physics of strings propagating on the internal manifold, e.g. a Calabi-Yau threefold. A simplified version of this correspondence relates the SU(2)-equivariant generalization of the Donaldson theory (and its further generalizations involving the non-abelian monopole equations) to the Gromov-Witten (GW) theory of the so-called local Calabi-Yau threefolds, for the SU(2) subgroup of the rotation symmetry group SO(4). In recent years the GW theory was related to the Donaldson-Thomas (DT) theory enumerating the ideal sheaves of curves and points. On the toric local Calabi-Yau manifolds the latter theory is studied using localization, producing the so-called topological vertex formalism (which was originally based on more sophisticated open-closed topological string dualities).

In order to accomodate the full SO(4)-equivariant version of the four dimensional Donaldson theory, the so-called "refined topological vertex" was proposed. Unlike that of the ordinary topological vertex, its relation to the DT theory remained unclear.

In these talks, based on joint work with Andrei Okounkov, this gap will be partially filled by showing that the equivariant K-theoretic version of the DT theory reproduces both the SO(4)-equivariant Donaldson theory in four dimensions, and the refined topological vertex formalism, for all toric Calabi-Yau's admitting the latter.

Thu, 12 May 2011
16:00
L3

" Ribet points on semi-abelian varieties : a nest for counterexamples"

Daniel Bertrand
(Paris)
Abstract

The points in question can be found on  any semi-abelian surface over an elliptic curve with complex multiplication. We will show that they provide counter-examples to natural expectations in a variety of fields :  Galois representations (following K. Ribet's initial study from the 80's), Lehmer's problem on heights, and more recently, the relative  analogue of the Manin-Mumford conjecture. However, they do support Pink's general conjecture on special subvarieties of mixed Shimura varieties.

 

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