Calendar

Just as moments of a distribution of real numbers are a powerful tool that (if they are not too large) determine the distribution uniquely, we can consider certain averages as moments of a distribution of groups (or more general algebraic structures).  We discuss how these moments determine a distribution of groups uniquely, and how that can be applied to find distributions of fundamental groups of random 3-manifolds, fundamental groups of curves over finite fields, and to give conjectures for distributions of important groups arising in number theory such as class groups.

Zoom:   https://harvard.zoom.us/j/779283357?pwd=MitXVm1pYUlJVzZqT3lwV2pCT1ZUQT09

We prove that the categories of coherent (or, equivalently, of quasi-coherent) sheaves over two noetherian non-commutative schemes X and Y are equivalent if and only if there centers C(X) and C(Y) are isomorphic and there is a local progenerator in the category of coherent sheaves over X whose sheaf of endomorphisms is anti-isomorphic to the inverse image of the structure sheaf of Y under the isomorphism X->Y. To prove it, we combine the classical Morita theorem with the Gabriel’s theory of locally noetherian categories.

We generalize the flux insertion argument due to Laughlin, Niu-Thouless-Tao-Wu, and Avron-Seiler-Zograf to the case of fractional quantum Hall states on a higher-genus surface. We propose this setting as a test to characterise the robustness, or topologicity, of the quantum state of matter and apply our test to the Laughlin states. Laughlin states form a vector bundle, the Laughlin bundle, over the Jacobian – the space of Aharonov-Bohm fluxes through the holes of the surface. The rank of the Laughlin bundle is the degeneracy of Laughlin states or, in presence of quasiholes, the dimension of the corresponding full many-body Hilbert space; its slope, which is the first Chern class divided by the rank, is the Hall conductance. We compute the rank and all the Chern classes of Laughlin bundles for any genus and any number of quasiholes, settling, in particular, the Wen-Niu conjecture. Then we show that Laughlin bundles with non-localized quasiholes are not projectively flat and that the Hall current is precisely quantized only for the states with localized quasiholes. Hence our test distinguishes these states from the full many-body Hilbert space.Based on joint work with Dimitri Zvonkine (CNRS, University of Paris-Versaille)

The adaptive immune system is able to learn from past experiences to better fit an unforeseen future. This is made possible by a diverse and dynamic repertoire of cells expressing unique antigen receptors and capable of rapid Darwinian evolution within an individual. However, naturally occurring immune responses exhibit limits in efficacy, speed and capacity to adapt to novel challenges. In this talk, I will discuss theoretical frameworks we developed to (1) explore functional impacts of non-equilibrium antigen recognition, and (2) identify conditions under which natural selection acting local in time can find adaptable solutions favorable in the long run, through exploiting environmental variations and functional constraints.

This seminar will be held at CMSA, 20 Garden St, seminar room G-10 and on Zoom. For more information on how to join the Zoom, please see: https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event/active-matter-seminar-6/

A metric graph is a graph—a finite network of vertices and edges—together with a prescription of a positive real length on each edge. I’ll use the term “moduli space of graphs’’ to refer to certain combinatorial spaces—think simplicial complexes—that furnish parameter spaces for metric graphs. There are different flavors of spaces depending on some additional choices of decorations on the graphs, but roughly, each cell parametrizes all possible metrizations of a fixed combinatorial graph. Many flavors of these moduli spaces have been in circulation for a while, starting with the work of Culler-Vogtmann in the 1980s on Outer Space. They have also recently played an important role in some recent advances using tropical geometry to study the topology of moduli spaces of curves and other related spaces. These advances give me an excuse to give what I hope will be an accessible introduction to moduli spaces of graphs and their connections with geometry.

For more information, please see: https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/tech-in-math/

This seminar will be held in Science Center 530 at 4:00pm on Wednesday, September 21st.

Please see the seminar page for more details: https://math.harvard.edu/~ctm/sem/.

Few notions within the realm of mathematical physics succeed in capturing the imagination and inspiring awe as well as that of a black hole. First encountered in the Schwarzschild solution, discovered a few months after the presentation of the Field Equations of General Relativity at the Prussian Academy of Sciences, the black hole as a mathematical phenomenon accompanies and prominently features within the history of General Relativity since its inception. In this talk we will lay out a brief history of the question of dynamical black hole formation in General Relativity and discuss a result, in collaboration with Xinliang An, on a scale-critical trapped surface formation criterion for the Einstein-Maxwell system.

For information on how to join, please see:  https://cmsa.fas.harvard.edu/event_category/general-relativity/

Understanding the geometry of The Mandelbrot set, which records dynamical information about every quadratic polynomial, has been a central task in holomorphic dynamics over the past forty years. Near parabolic parameters, the structure of the Mandelbrot set is asymptotically self-similar and resembles a parade of elephants. Near parabolic parameters on these “elephants”, the Mandelbrot set is again self-similar and resembles another parade of elephants. This phenomenon repeats infinitely, and we see different parades of elephants at each scale. In this talk, we will explore the implications of controlling the geometry of these elephants. In particular, we will partially answer Milnor’s conjecture on the optimality of the Yoccoz inequality, and see potential connections to the local connectivity of the Mandelbrot set.

For more information, please see: https://people.math.harvard.edu/~demarco/AlgebraicDynamics/

This talk is on work in preparation with Ali Daemi.

I will explain why Kim Froyshov’s mod 2 instanton invariant q_3 gives information about indefinite 4-manifolds: if H_1(W;Z/2) = 0 and W has boundary Y, then -b^+(W) <= q_3(Y) <= b^-(W). This is the first invariant known to enjoy comparable bounds for indefinite manifolds W.

The key observation is that even when b^+(W) > 0, one can define a Donaldson invariant in the (tilde) instanton homology of boundary(W) — not in the usual instanton tilde complex, but rather a “suspension”. This suspension process accounts for the role of obstructed gluing theory, and does not destroy information about q_3 (but does destroy information about all other types of h-invariant).

As a corollary, we show that there exist integer homology spheres with arbitrary integral surgery number S(Y_n) = n. This answers a question of Dave Auckly. Previously, the state of the art was n=2, and further progress was obstructed by the possibility that the linking matrix be indefinite.

CMSA Fall Gathering will be held on September 23rd from 4:30-6:00pm. All CMSA and Math Affiliates Invited! Hot dogs, popcorn, and hot cider courtesy of Dylan and Pete’s.