Mathematical Physics

The elliptic quantum (toroidal) group U_{q,p}(g) is an elliptic and dynamical analogue of the Drinfeld realization 
of the affine quantum (toroidal) group U_q(g). I will discuss an interesting connection of its representations with 
a geometry such as an identification of the elliptic weight functions derived by using  the vertex operators with 
the elliptic stable envelopes in [Aganagic-  Okounkov ’16] and correspondence between the Gelfand-Tsetlin bases 
of a finite dimensional representation of U_{q,p} with the fixed point classes in the equivariant elliptic cohomology.

Mirković-Vilonen cycles are certain algebraic cycles in the affine Grassmannian that give rise to a particular weight basis (the MV basis) under the Geometric Satake equivalence. I will state a conjecture about the Weyl group action on weight-zero MV cycles and equivariant multiplicities. I can prove it for small coweights in type A. Equivalently, I show that the MV basis agrees with the Springer basis. I have similar results for the Ginzburg-Nakajima basis. A primary tool is work of Braverman, Gaitsgory and Vybornov.

Integrals of characteristic classes of tautological sheaves on the Hilbert scheme of points on a surface often arise in enumerative problems. We explain how to use the K-theoretic Donaldson-Thomas theory of toric Calabi-Yau threefolds to study K-theoretic versions of such expressions.

Namely, we explicate a precise relationship between K-theoretic Donaldson-Thomas theory and the refined topological vertex of Iqbal, Kosçaz and Vafa. Applying such results to specific toric threefolds, we deduce dualities satisfied by certain generating series that control integrals over the Hilbert scheme of points on a surface. We then explain how to use these dualities to evaluate certain Euler characteristics of tautological bundles on the Hilbert scheme of points on a general surface.

A 3d N=4 gauge theory admits two topological twists, which we'll simply call A and B. The two twists are exchanged by 3d mirror symmetry. It is known that local operators in the A (resp. B) twist include the Coulomb-branch (resp. Higgs-branch) chiral rings.  In this talk I will discuss the *line* operators preserved by the two twists, which in each case should have the structure of a braided tensor category.

Roughly speaking, one finds vortex lines in the A-twist and Wilson lines in the B-twist. I will propose a geometric identification of the corresponding categories, and explain how geometric calculations can be used to find the vector spaces of local operators at junctions of lines.

Combined with 3d mirror symmetry, this will lead to new dualities of braided tensor categories. [Joint work with N. Garner, M. Geracie, and J. Hilburn.]