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Higgs bundles without geometry
Higgs bundles appeared a few decades ago as solutions to certain equations from physics and have attracted much attention in geometry as well as other areas of mathematics and physics. Here, we take a very informal stroll through some aspects of linear algebra that anticipate the deeper structure in the moduli space of Higgs bundles.
Lagrangian mean curvature flow
Lagrangian mean curvature flow is a powerful tool in modern mathematics with connections to topics in analysis, geometry, topology and mathematical physics. I will describe some of the key aspects of Lagrangian mean curvature flow, some recent progress, and some major open problems.
Searching for the Monster in the Trees
The Monster finite simple group is almost unimaginably large, with about 8 × 1053 elements in it. Trying to understand such an immense object requires both theory and computer programs. In this snapshot, we discuss finite groups, representations, and finally Brauer trees, which offer some new understanding of this vast and intricate structure.
The Robinson–Schensted algorithm
I am going to describe the Robinson–Schensted algorithm which transforms a permutation of the numbers from 1 to n into a pair of combinatorial objects called “standard Young tableaux”. I will then say a little bit about a few of the fascinating properties of this transformation, and how it connects to current research.
From Betti numbers to ℓ²-Betti numbers
We provide a leisurely introduction to ℓ²-Betti numbers, which are topological invariants, by relating them to their much older cousins, Betti numbers. In the end we present an open research problem about ℓ²-Betti numbers.
Jewellery from tessellations of hyperbolic space
In this snapshot, we will first give an introduction to hyperbolic geometry and we will then show how certain matrix groups of a number-theoretic origin give rise to a large variety of interesting tessellations of 3-dimensional hyperbolic space. Many of the building blocks of these tessellations exhibit beautiful symmetry and have inspired the design of 3D printed jewellery.
Invitation to quiver representation and Catalan combinatorics
Representation theory is an area of mathematics that deals with abstract algebraic structures and has numerous applications across disciplines. In this snapshot, we will talk about the representation theory of a class of objects called quivers and relate them to the fantastic combinatorics of the Catalan numbers.
Describing distance: from the plane to spectral triples
Geometry draws its power from the abstract structures that govern the shapes found in the real world. These abstractions often provide deeper insights into the underlying mathematical objects. In this snapshot, we give a glimpse into how certain “curved spaces” called manifolds can be better understood by looking at the (complex) differentiable functions they admit.
Ultrafilter methods in combinatorics
Given a set X, ultrafilters determine which subsets of X should be considered as large. We illustrate the use of ultrafilter methods in combinatorics by discussing two cornerstone results in Ramsey theory, namely Ramsey’s theorem itself and Hindman’s theorem. We then present a recent result in combinatorial number theory that verifies a conjecture of Erdos known as the “B + C conjecture”.
From the dollar game to the Riemann-Roch Theorem
What is the dollar game? What can you do to win it? Can you always win it? In this snapshot you will find answers to these questions as well as several of the mathematical surprises that lurk in the background, including a new perspective on a century-old theorem.