Dynamics, Geometry, & Groups - Reda Chhaibi (Toulouse)
Friday, April 12th, 2019
Time: 2:30 p.m Place: Jeffery Hall 422
Speaker: Reda Chhaibi (Toulouse)
Title: Quantum SL_2, infinite curvature and Pitman's 2M-X Theorem.
Abstract: Pitman's theorem (1975) is an aesthetic theorem from probability theory, with geometry and representation theory related to SL_2, in disguise. Many proofs do exist, and the goal of this talk is to present a unified point of view regarding two proofs. - A proof by Bougerol and Jeulin - which generalizes to all semi-simple groups. They consider a Brownian motion on the symmetric space $H^3 = SL_2(\mathbb{C})/SU_2$, with varying curvature r and then take the limit $r \rightarrow \infty$. - Biane defined and studied quantum random walks on the enveloping algebra of SL_2, in the 90s. Then in the years 2000, he made the connection to the representation theory of the Jimbo-Drinfeld quantum group $\mathcal{U}_q(sl_2)$, in the crystal regime, i.e $q \rightarrow 0$.
Why should the crystal regime $q=0$ for quantum groups be related infinite curvature in symmetric spaces? The goal of this talk is to convince the audience that the parameter q, from the point of view of quantization and Kirillov's orbit method, is not a quantum parameter but indeed a curvature parameter. The simple relationship is q=e^{-r}, after a modification of the classical definition of quantum groups. I shall only mention the rank 1 group SL_2, and assume no knowledge of quantum groups, since they will have to be (re)defined anyway.
Joint work with F. Chapon.