From Ramanujan to K-theory

The Rogers-Ramanujan identity is an equality between a certain “q-series” (given as an infinite sum) and a certain modular form (given as an infinite product). Motivated by ideas from physics, Nahm formulated a necessary condition for when such q-hypergeometric series were modular. Perhaps surprisingly, this turns out to be related to algebraic K-theory. We discuss a proof of this conjecture. This is joint work with Stavros Garoufalidis and Don Zagier.

Zoom: https://harvard.zoom.us/j/99334398740

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