The focus of this discussion meeting will be geometric aspects of the representation spaces of surface groups into semi-simple Lie groups. Classical Teichmüller theory may be viewed as a starting point of the subject, and following the work of Labourie and Goldman, many exciting developments have taken place when the target group is SL(n, R). Recent work of Kapovich, Leeb and Porti have connected the subject with geometric group theory and higher rank symmetric spaces, opening up new horizons. The aim of this discussion meeting is to expose all these recent developments on the subject and to understand avenues for further directions. The program is an immediate follow up to the ICTS Advanced School: Geometry, Groups and Dynamics-2017.
The focus of this discussion meeting will be geometric aspects of the representation spaces of surface groups into semi-simple Lie groups. Classical Teichmüller theory may be viewed as a starting point of the subject, and following the work of Labourie and Goldman, many exciting developments have taken place when the target group is SL(n, R). Recent work of Kapovich, Leeb and Porti have connected the subject with geometric group theory and higher rank symmetric spaces, opening up new horizons. The aim of this discussion meeting is to expose all these recent developments on the subject and to understand avenues for further directions. The program is an immediate follow up to the ICTS Advanced School: Geometry, Groups and Dynamics-2017.
The program focuses on geometry, dynamical systems and group actions. Topics are chosen to cover the modern aspects of these areas in which research has been very active in recent times. The program will have two parts, a preschool in the first week and an advanced school during the remaining two weeks. The pre-school will be devoted to covering the necessary background material for the advanced school during the remaining two weeks. The courses for the first week of pre-school include:Discrete subgroups of Lie groups, by Pralay Chatterjee (IMSc, Chennai )Introduction to hyperbolic geometry, by Subhojoy Gupta (IISc, Bangalore)Introduction to Geometric Group Theory, by Pranab Sardar (IISER, Mohali)Crash course on Riemannian geometry, by Harish Seshadri (IISc, Bangalore)Teichmüller Theory, old and new, by Athanase Papadopoulos (Univ. Strasbourg, France)More details of the courses will be given soon on this webpage.The advanced school will consist of courses aimed at graduate students a...
The program focuses on geometry, dynamical systems and group actions. Topics are chosen to cover the modern aspects of these areas in which research has been very active in recent times. The program will have two parts, a preschool in the first week and an advanced school during the remaining two weeks. The pre-school will be devoted to covering the necessary background material for the advanced school during the remaining two weeks. The courses for the first week of pre-school include:Discrete subgroups of Lie groups, by Pralay Chatterjee (IMSc, Chennai )Introduction to hyperbolic geometry, by Subhojoy Gupta (IISc, Bangalore)Introduction to Geometric Group Theory, by Pranab Sardar (IISER, Mohali)Crash course on Riemannian geometry, by Harish Seshadri (IISc, Bangalore)Teichmüller Theory, old and new, by Athanase Papadopoulos (Univ. Strasbourg, France)More details of the courses will be given soon on this webpage.The advanced school will consist of courses aimed at graduate students a...
Our knowledge of cytoskeletal filaments, nucleic acid filaments (DNA and RNA) as well as their associated proteins is constantly expanding due to application of a range of recent biophysical techniques which has helped scientists to probe biophysical phenomena at molecular, cellular and tissue levels. Cytoskeletal filaments, particularly microtubules (MT) and filamentous actin (F-actin), not only provide mechanical strength to an eukaryotic cell but also form a fibrous network that serves at the network of tracks for transporation system of the cell. The dynamics of these filaments and the mechanisms of force generation by polymerization/depolymerization have been investigated experimentally as well as theoretically at multiple scales. Nucleic acid strands (DNA/RNA) are more flexible filaments. The hierarchical organization and dynamics of both cytoskeletal and nucleic acid filaments depend crucially on the proteins bound to these filaments.Cytoskeletal motor proteins utilize the respe...
Our knowledge of cytoskeletal filaments, nucleic acid filaments (DNA and RNA) as well as their associated proteins is constantly expanding due to application of a range of recent biophysical techniques which has helped scientists to probe biophysical phenomena at molecular, cellular and tissue levels. Cytoskeletal filaments, particularly microtubules (MT) and filamentous actin (F-actin), not only provide mechanical strength to an eukaryotic cell but also form a fibrous network that serves at the network of tracks for transporation system of the cell. The dynamics of these filaments and the mechanisms of force generation by polymerization/depolymerization have been investigated experimentally as well as theoretically at multiple scales. Nucleic acid strands (DNA/RNA) are more flexible filaments. The hierarchical organization and dynamics of both cytoskeletal and nucleic acid filaments depend crucially on the proteins bound to these filaments.Cytoskeletal motor proteins utilize the respe...
The recent detection of gravitational waves from a merging binary neutron star system, along with follow-up observations in the full frequency band of the electromagnetic spectrum mark the dawn of multimessenger astronomy. In celebration of this wonderful milestone in astronomy, ICTS is organizing a half-day scientific event. The event will feature several talks summarizing the gravitational and electromagnetic observations, accessible to general scientists and scientifically inclined public. Program Chair: Bala R Iyer Time Speaker Topic 10:00 - 10:05 Rajesh Gopakumar (ICTS) Welcome remarks 10:05 - 10:15 Bala Iyer (ICTS) Opening remarks 10:15 - 10:45 Parameswaran Ajith (ICTS) Gravitational-wave observations of the binary neutron star inspiral GW170817 10:45 - 11:15 Varun Bhalerao (IIT Bombay) Multimessenger observations of GW170817 (remote talk) 11:15 - 11:30 Coffee/Tea 11:30 - 12:00 K. G. Arun (CMI) GRB Astrop...
The recent detection of gravitational waves from a merging binary neutron star system, along with follow-up observations in the full frequency band of the electromagnetic spectrum mark the dawn of multimessenger astronomy. In celebration of this wonderful milestone in astronomy, ICTS is organizing a half-day scientific event. The event will feature several talks summarizing the gravitational and electromagnetic observations, accessible to general scientists and scientifically inclined public. Program Chair: Bala R Iyer Time Speaker Topic 10:00 - 10:05 Rajesh Gopakumar (ICTS) Welcome remarks 10:05 - 10:15 Bala Iyer (ICTS) Opening remarks 10:15 - 10:45 Parameswaran Ajith (ICTS) Gravitational-wave observations of the binary neutron star inspiral GW170817 10:45 - 11:15 Varun Bhalerao (IIT Bombay) Multimessenger observations of GW170817 (remote talk) 11:15 - 11:30 Coffee/Tea 11:30 - 12:00 K. G. Arun (CMI) GRB Astrop...
Large deviation theory made its way into statistical physics as a mathematical framework for studying equilibrium systems, and is now increasingly used for studying nonequilibrium systems driven in steady states, quantum many-body systems, and disordered systems. Major breakthroughs in understanding these systems have resulted recently from using this theory and are establishing it as an integral part of theoretical statistical physics. In parallel, mathematicians have considerably developed this theory and applied it to a variety of situations and are now also actively working on numerical methods for simulating large deviations, often with a direct motivation to study physical systems.The aim of this program is to bring together physicists and mathematicians working on large deviations to share their recent results, to engage in new collaborations, and to make progress on fundamental problems in statistical physics. The program will focus on three themes, which drive a large part of ...
Large deviation theory made its way into statistical physics as a mathematical framework for studying equilibrium systems, and is now increasingly used for studying nonequilibrium systems driven in steady states, quantum many-body systems, and disordered systems. Major breakthroughs in understanding these systems have resulted recently from using this theory and are establishing it as an integral part of theoretical statistical physics. In parallel, mathematicians have considerably developed this theory and applied it to a variety of situations and are now also actively working on numerical methods for simulating large deviations, often with a direct motivation to study physical systems.The aim of this program is to bring together physicists and mathematicians working on large deviations to share their recent results, to engage in new collaborations, and to make progress on fundamental problems in statistical physics. The program will focus on three themes, which drive a large part of ...
Stochastic Thermodynamics and Active Systems are areas in statistical physics which have recently attracted a lot of attention and many interesting results have emerged in these areas. Stochastic Thermodynamics typically deals with small systems where the microscopic dynamics satisfies detailed balance and one is interested in deriving laws analogous to thermodynamics but now in a situation where fluctuations are important. An important discovery in this area are the so-called fluctuation relations. Active Systems include systems such as living biological matter, granular materials and other systems where the microscopic dynamics is stochastic, diffusive and dissipative but with the important difference that detailed balance is not satisfied. In addition, non-equilibrium driving in active matter systems occurs at the scale of the individual entities rather than being driven from the system boundaries. A very important question is to formulate a version of stochastic thermodynamics for ...
Stochastic Thermodynamics and Active Systems are areas in statistical physics which have recently attracted a lot of attention and many interesting results have emerged in these areas. Stochastic Thermodynamics typically deals with small systems where the microscopic dynamics satisfies detailed balance and one is interested in deriving laws analogous to thermodynamics but now in a situation where fluctuations are important. An important discovery in this area are the so-called fluctuation relations. Active Systems include systems such as living biological matter, granular materials and other systems where the microscopic dynamics is stochastic, diffusive and dissipative but with the important difference that detailed balance is not satisfied. In addition, non-equilibrium driving in active matter systems occurs at the scale of the individual entities rather than being driven from the system boundaries. A very important question is to formulate a version of stochastic thermodynamics for ...
