Brett Nasserden (University of Waterloo)

Date

Monday January 31, 2022
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Location

Online via Zoom

Algebra & Geometry Seminar

Monday, January 31st, 2022

Time: 4:30 p.m.  Place: Online via Zoom (contact Kaveh Mousavand for Zoom link)

Speaker: Brett Nasserden (University of Waterloo)

Title: Arithmetic dynamics on projective bundles over elliptic curves.

Abstract: Let $X$ be a smooth projective variety defined over a number field $K$. Suppose that $X$ is endowed with a surjective endomorphism $f: X\rightarrow X$. A numerical measure of the complexity of the morphism $f$ is its dynamical degree, which can be defined as the spectral radius of the pullback morphism $f^*:N^1(X)\rightarrow N^1(X)$, where $N^1(X)$ is the Neron-Severi group of $X$. On the other hand, given a point $P$ in X defined over $K$, we have the following arithmetic measure of complexity of $f$ at $P:$ The arithmetic degree of $P$ with respect to $f$ is defined to be the limit, as $n\to\infty$, $h(f^n(P))^{1/n}$ where $h(x)$ is the height of a point $x$ in $X$. The Kawaguchi-Silverman conjecture predicts that if the forward orbit of $P$, $\lbrace P,f(P), f^2(P),\dotsc\rbrace$, is Zariski dense, then the arithmetic degree of $P$ with respect to $f$ equals the dynamical degree of $f$.\par In this talk, we will discuss how to prove the Kawaguchi-Silverman conjecture when $X$ is the projectivization of certain vector bundles on an elliptic curve $\mathcal{C}$. Specifically, Atiyah proved that for each integer $r>0$, there is a unique indecomposable rank $r$ degree zero vector bundle $F_r$ on $\mathcal{C}$ with a non-zero global section. We will discuss how one may prove the Kawaguchi-Silverman conjecture for the projectivizations of these bundles. Along the way, we will extend some results of Atiyah in the following way: Atiyah showed that the Iitaka dimension of the line bundle $\mathcal{O}(1)$ on $P(F_2)$ is zero. We prove that the Iitaka dimension of the line bundle $\mathcal{O}(1)$ on $P(F_r)$ is strictly positive whenever $r>2$ and relate this to the Kawaguchi-Silverman conjecture.

Website details here: https://mast.queensu.ca/~georep/

Elizabeth Ultee (Middlebury College)

Date

Friday January 28, 2022
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Location

Online (via Zoom)

Math & Stats Department Colloquium

 

Elizabeth Ultee (Middlebury College)

Friday, January 28th, 2022

Time: 2:30 p.m.  Place: Online (via Zoom)

Speaker: Elizabeth Ultee (Middlebury College)

Title: Mathematical avenues toward climate science

Abstract: Global climate change is one of the most pressing challenges facing humankind. From a wide variety of mathematical starting points, we have the opportunity to address important open questions in climate science. I will highlight some of those open questions and sketch emerging approaches. I will then give a detailed example from my own work: how to find a "speed limit" on glacier retreat and the resulting global mean sea-level rise. Whether climate intersects your research, teaching, or simply your human interests, I encourage you to join the conversation.

Elizabeth Ultee is an Assistant Professor of Geology at Middlebury College, Vermont. She held Postdoctoral positions at Georgia Institute of Technology in 2021, and at Massachusetts Institute of Technology from 2018-2021. She got her Ph.D.~in Climate and Space Science from the University of Michigan in 2018, and B.Sc.~in Mathematical Physics from Queen’s University in 2013. She is a glaciologist focused on describing the processes and societal impacts of glacier and ice sheet change. Her current projects include glacial water supply, ice fracture, and global sea level rise. She received the Early Career Scientist Medal from the International Glaciological Society in 2021.

Ana Garcia-Elsener (University of Glasgow)

Date

Monday January 24, 2022
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Location

Online via Zoom

Algebra & Geometry Seminar

Monday, January 24th, 2022

Time: 4:30 p.m.  Place: Online via Zoom (contact Kaveh Mousavand for Zoom link)

Speaker: Ana Garcia-Elsener (University of Glasgow)

Title: Grassmannian cluster categories

Abstract: The category of maximal Cohen-Macaulay modules over a certain quotient of a boundary algebra provides a categorification of Scott's cluster algebra structure of the Grassmannian $Gr(k,n)$, by work of Jensen, King and Su. This category is of infinite type in general, with finite types corresponding to the ADE Dynkin diagrams. We study this category in the infinite types. It is known to be tau-periodic, and we show that it is a tubular category. This makes it a very interesting family of categories of infinite types and allows us to characterize small rank modules.

Website details here: https://mast.queensu.ca/~georep/

Andrew P. Staal (University of Waterloo)

Date

Monday January 17, 2022
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Location

Online via Zoom

Algebra & Geometry Seminar

Monday, January 17th, 2022

Time: 4:30 p.m.  Place: Online via Zoom (contact Kaveh Mousavand for Zoom link)

Speaker: Andrew P. Staal (University of Waterloo)

Title: Small Elementary Components of Hilbert Schemes of Points

Abstract: Hilbert schemes of points are moduli spaces of fundamental importance in algebraic geometry, commutative algebra, and algebraic combinatorics. Since their construction by Grothendieck, they have seen broad-ranging applications from the McKay correspondence to Haiman's proof of the Macdonald positivity conjecture.\par I will present some recent progress in the study of Hilbert schemes $\mathrm{Hilb}^d(\mathbb{A}^n)$ of $d$ points in affine space, and the related (local) punctual Hilbert schemes $\mathrm{Hilb}^d(\mathcal{O}_{\mathbb{A}^n,p})$ at fixed $p \in \mathbb{A}^n$. Specifically, I will discuss some results on \emph{elementary} components of Hilbert schemes of points and tie these to a question posed by Iarrobino in the 80's: does there exist an irreducible component of the punctual Hilbert scheme $\mathrm{Hilb}^d(\mathcal{O}_{\mathbb{A}^n,p})$ of dimension less than $(n-1)(d-1)$? I will answer this question by describing a new infinite family of irreducible components satisfying this bound, when $n=4$. A secondary family of elementary components also arises, providing further new examples of elementary components of Hilbert schemes of points, and improving our knowledge surrounding a folklore question on the existence of certain Gorenstein local Artinian rings.\par This is joint work with Matt Satriano (U Waterloo).

Website details here: https://mast.queensu.ca/~georep/

Avi Steiner (University of Western Ontario)

Date

Monday January 10, 2022
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Location

Online via Zoom

Algebra & Geometry Seminar

Monday, January 10th, 2022

Time: 4:30 p.m.  Place: Online via Zoom (contact Kaveh Mousavand for Zoom link)

Speaker: Avi Steiner (University of Western Ontario)

Title: "Symmetrizing" logarithmic derivations with respect to matroid duality

Abstract: Of interest to people who study both hyperplane arrangements and commutative algebra are the homological properties of the module of logarithmic derivations of a hyperplane arrangement A. I will introduce the "ideal of pairs", which is a sort of "symmetrization" of this module of logarithmic derivations with respect to matroid duality. This is an ideal which simultaneously "sees" many of the homological properties of both the arrangement and its dual.

Website details here: https://mast.queensu.ca/~georep/

Chirantan Chowdhury (University of Duisburg-Essen)

Date

Monday December 13, 2021
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Location

Online via Zoom

Algebra & Geometry Seminar

Monday, December 13th, 2021

Time: 4:30 p.m.  Place: Online via Zoom (contact Kaveh Mousavand for Zoom link)

Speaker: Chirantan Chowdhury (University of Duisburg-Essen)

Title: Motivic Homotopy Theory of Algebraic Stacks.

Abstract: In this talk, we discuss the extension of motivic homotopy theory developed by Morel and Voevodsky in the setting of algebraic stacks and establish a six functor formalism. The class of algebraic stacks that we consider includes many interesting examples: quasi-compact and quasi-separated algebraic spaces, local quotient stacks and moduli stack of vector bundles. The talk starts with giving an overview of algebraic stacks, motivic homotopy theory and the language of $\infty$-categories developed by Lurie which shall lead us to the statement of the main theorem. If time permits, we give a brief idea about the proof of the theorem.

Website details here: https://mast.queensu.ca/~georep/

Havard Terland (Norwegian University of Science and Technology--NTNU)

Date

Monday December 6, 2021
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Location

Online via Zoom

Algebra & Geometry Seminar

Monday, December 6th, 2021

Time: 4:30 p.m.  Place: Online via Zoom (contact Kaveh Mousavand for Zoom link)

Speaker: Havard Terland (Norwegian University of Science and Technology--NTNU)

Title: Cambrian combinatorics on quiver representations

Abstract: Tau-tilting theory completes tilting theory from the perspective of mutation. Letting points be support-tau tilting pairs and arrows indicate (left) mutation, one then obtains a so-called mutation quiver whose underlying graph is regular. The goal of this talk will be to discuss recent efforts to better understand the connected components of (the underlying graphs of) mutation quivers of support tau-tilting pairs, in particular using reduction techniques in tau tilting theory and the theory of wall and chamber structures.

Website details here: https://mast.queensu.ca/~georep/

Donald Estep (Simon Fraser University)

Date

Friday December 3, 2021
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Location

Online (via Zoom)

Math & Stats Department Colloquium

 

Donald Estep (Simon Fraser University)

Friday, December 3rd, 2021

Time: 2:30 p.m.  Place: Online (via Zoom)

Speaker: Donald Estep (Simon Fraser University)

Title: Formulation and solution of stochastic inverse problems for science and engineering models

Abstract: Determining information about the state of a complex physical system from observations of its behavior is a fundamental problem in scientific inference and engineering design. Often, this can be formulated as the stochastic inverse problem of determining probability structures on parameters for a physics model corresponding to a probability structure on the output of the model. We describe the formulation and solution of stochastic inverse problems. Our approach yields a computationally tractable problem while avoiding alterations of the model like regularization and ad hoc assumptions about the probability structures. We present several examples, including a high-dimensional application to determination of parameter fields in storm surge models. We describe several extensions and on-going research.

Donald Estep is the Scientific Director of CANSSI and Canada Research Chair in Computational Probability and Uncertainty Quantification (Tier 1) in the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science at Simon Fraser University. His awards include Fellow of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, the Computational and Mathematical Methods in Sciences and Engineering (CMMSE) Prize, and the Chalmers Jubilee Professorship of Chalmers University of Technology. His research interests include uncertainty quantification for complex physics models, stochastic inverse problems, adaptive computation, and modeling of multiscale systems. His application interests include ecology, materials science, detection of black holes, modeling of fusion reaction, analysis of nuclear fuels, hurricane wave forecasting, flow in porous media, and electromagnetic scattering.

Ilya Kapovich (Hunter College of CUNY)

Date

Friday November 26, 2021
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Location

Online (via Zoom)

Math & Stats Department Colloquium

 

Ilya Kapovich (Hunter College of CUNY)

Friday, November 26th, 2021

Time: 2:30 p.m.  Place: Online (via Zoom)

Speaker: Ilya Kapovich (Hunter College of CUNY)

Title: Primitivity rank for random elements in free groups

Abstract: \emph{Free} algebraic structures play a key role in algebra since all other structures can be obtained from them by taking quotients. For example, the polynomial ring $K[x,y]$ (where $K$ is a field) is a free object in the category of commutative algebras over $K$. A free structure always comes with a free \emph{basis}, although the choice of such a basis is not unique. An element in a free structure is \emph{primitive} if it belongs to some free basis. For a finitely generated free group $F=F(X)$ the cardinality of its given free basis $X$ is called the \emph{rank} of $F$. It is also known that all subgroups of $F$ are themselves free. In 2014 Doron Puder introduced the notion of \emph{primitivity rank} $\pi(g)$ for a nontrivial element $g$ in a free group $F_r$ of rank $r$. Namely, $\pi(g)$ is defined as the smallest rank of a subgroup $H$ of $F_r$ containing $g$ as a non-primitive element, or as $\infty$ if not such $H$ exists. The set of all subgroups $H$ of $F_r$ as above is denoted $Crit(g)$. It turned out that primitivity index of an element $w\in F_r$ is closely related to the questions about word-hyperbolicity and subgroup properties of the one-relator group $\langle F_r| w=1\rangle$.

We prove that if $r\ge 2$ and $F_2=F(x_1,\dots, x_r)$ is the free group of rank $r$, then, as $n\to\infty$, for a “random” element $w_n\in F_r$ of length $n$ with probability tending to $1$ one has $\pi(w)=r$ and $Crit(w)=\{F_r\}$. We discuss applications of this result to “word measures” on finite symmetric groups $S_N$, defined by such $w_n$. We also contrast this result with the behavior of the \emph{primitivity index} of random elements in free groups. The latter notion is motivated by studying quantitative aspects of residual finiteness of free groups and by generalizing some results from hyperbolic geometry about “untangling” closed curves on surfaces.

Ilya Kapovich is a Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the Hunter College of CUNY. He was named an inaugural fellow of the American Mathematical Society in 2012, and he delivered an invited address at 2008 Spring Eastern Sectional meeting of the AMS. He is known for his contributions to geometric group theory, geometric topology, and complexity theory.

Emily Gunawan (University of Oklahoma)

Date

Monday November 22, 2021
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Location

Online via Zoom

Algebra & Geometry Seminar

Monday, November 22nd, 2021

Time: 4:30 p.m.  Place: Online via Zoom (contact Kaveh Mousavand for Zoom link)

Speaker: Emily Gunawan (University of Oklahoma)

Title: Cambrian combinatorics on quiver representations

Abstract: First, we will discuss a polygon model of the Auslander--Reiten quiver of a type A quiver. Next, we will introduce a Catalan object which we call a maximal almost rigid representation. Finally, we will define a partial order on the set of maximal almost rigid representations and show that this partial order is a Tamari or Cambrian lattice. This talk is based on joint work with Emily Barnard, Emily Meehan, and Ralf Schiffler.

Website details here: https://mast.queensu.ca/~georep/