Differential Geometry Seminars 2020

School of Mathematical Sciences – The University of Adelaide

Due to COVID-19 safety precautions, the seminar will be held over Zoom for the rest of Semester 1, unless otherwise stated.

~ Next talk ~

• To be announced TBA
Title: TBA
Friday, 12 June 2020 at 12:10pm, online Zoom seminar

Abstract: TBA

~ Upcoming talks ~

• TBA TBA
Title: TBA
Friday, 12 June 2020 at 12:10pm at Napier 209 Lecture Theatre

Abstract: TBA

• Yaping Yang (University of Melbourne)
Title: TBA
Friday, 19 June 2020 at 12:10pm at Napier 209 Lecture Theatre

Abstract: TBA

~ Past talks ~

• Paolo Rossi (Università degli Studi di Padova)
Title: Double ramification cycles and integrable systems
Monday, 17 February 2020 at 2:10pm at Napier 208 Lecture Theatre

Abstract: The double ramification cycle in the moduli space of smooth algebraic curves with marked points is the locus of curves whose marked points form the support of a principal divisor. A natural Chow class representing the compactification of such locus is the push-forward of the virtual fundamental class of the space of rubber maps to P1 relative to 0 and infinity. In a series of papers with A. Buryak (and, in part, with B. Dubrovin and J. Guéré), we have studied the intersection theory of such cycle with other tautological classes. In particular, inspired by ideas from Eliashberg, Givental and Hofer's Symplectic Field Theory, we have developed a construction using the DR cycle to associate to any cohomological field theory on the moduli space of stable curves an integrable system (of Hamiltonian PDEs) and its quantization, called the DR hierarchy. This turns out to have a deep relation, via a more classical construction of Dubrovin and Zhang, with Gromov-Witten theory, mirror symmetry and the structure of the tautological ring. I will try to introduce in a simple way the main ideas and features of this construction and showcase some of its applications.

• Johanna Knapp (University of Melbourne)
Title: GLSMs, CYs, and Localisation
Friday, 28 February 2020 at 12:10pm at Napier 209 Lecture Theatre

Abstract: Gauged linear sigma models (GLSMs) can be used to analyse Calabi-Yaus and their moduli spaces. Recent results in supersymmetric localisation have made it possible to compute exact, i.e. fully quantum corrected, quantities that are relevant in string compactifications directly in the GLSM. After a review of the general framework, I will present some recent applications with focus on the sphere and hemisphere partition function of the GLSM.

• Finnur Larusson (University of Adelaide)
Title: Closing lemmas and connecting lemmas in holomorphic dynamics
Friday, 6 March 2020 at 12:10pm at Napier 209 Lecture Theatre

Abstract: Closing lemmas and connecting lemmas are of great importance in smooth dynamics. I will explain what they are. Then I will describe new joint work with Leandro Arosio. We have proved new closing lemmas and connecting lemmas in holomorphic dynamics.

• David Baraglia (University of Adelaide)
Title: The alpha-invariant of spin complete intersections
Friday, 13 March 2020 at 12:10pm at Napier 209 Lecture Theatre

Abstract: We consider the alpha invariant of any smooth complex projective spin complete intersection of dimension 1 mod 4. We prove that the alpha invariant depends only on the total degree and Pontryagin classes. This is in agreement with a long-standing conjecture which states that two complete intersections (in any dimension greater than 2) with the same total degrees, Pontryagin and Euler classes are diffeomorphic.

• Hemanth Saratchandran (University of Adelaide)
Title: Complements of 2-tori in closed smooth simply connected 4-manifolds that admit a complete finite volume hyperbolic structure
Friday, 1 May 2020 at 12:10pm, online Zoom seminar.

Abstract: The study of hyperbolic knot complements has a long history leading to many exciting results in the field of 3-manifold topology. In this talk, I will present a 4-dimensional analogue of this study. Namely, I will consider when a closed smooth simply connected 4-manifold can contain a collection of 2-tori, whose complement can admit a complete finite volume hyperbolic structure. I will start by presenting some necessary conditions, based on a classification theorem of S. Donaldson and M. Freedman, and then move on to outline how one can try to build such complements.

• Lachlan Macdonald (University of Adelaide)
Title: Holonomy, diffeology and foliated manifolds
Friday, 15 May 2020 at 12:10pm, online Zoom seminar

Abstract: The concept of holonomy originated in the study of problems in mechanics - roughly speaking, holonomy keeps track of the path-dependence" of the final state of a time-evolving system. In differential geometry, holonomy has found rigorous expression in the theory of fibre bundles, connections and curvature, with respect to which holonomy is determined by the solutions of first order differential equations. There is another notion of holonomy which arises in the theory of foliations, whose interpretations have for several decades taken a less systematic and geometrically intuitive form. In this talk, I will discuss recent work which unifies the foliation notion of holonomy with the fibre bundle notion using the tool of diffeology. The talk will be accessible to anyone with a working understanding of differential geometry.