Mathematical Physics

In recent years, the classification of fermionic symmetry protected topological phases has led to renewed interest in classical constructions of invariants in homotopy theory. In this talk, we focus on the description of Steenrod squares for triangulated spaces at the cochain level, introducing new formulas for the cup-i products and discussing their universality through an axiomatic approach. We also examine the interaction between Steenrod squares and the algebra structure in cohomology, providing a cochain level proof of the Cartan relation as requested by Kapustin. Time permitting, we will also study the Adem relation from this perspective.

Zoom link:  https://pitp.zoom.us/j/98288876236?pwd=cHJVM3M1K3FsUmdtbENZenhKMnBkdz09

Factorization algebras are local-to-global objects, much like sheaves, and it is natural to ask what kind of topology, geometry, and physics they are sensitive to. We will examine this question with a focus on less-perturbative phenomena, touching on topics like moduli of vacua for 4-dimensional gauge theories and Dijkgraaf-Witten-type TFTs. Apologies hereby issued in advance to the (hopefully) friendly audience (and to my collaborators!) for speaking before achieving complete clarity.

Zoom link:  https://pitp.zoom.us/j/94417858154?pwd=ak54UFpPb3hFbnBwcUlnMnhCdG1odz09

The Fukaya category of a symplectic manifold is an excellent toy model for exploring the general structure of boundary conditions in two-dimensional topological field theories. In this talk I will explain an analogue for three dimensional theories. The natural playground for boundary conditions in d=3 is the 3d A-model into a hyperKahler target space. Here the fundamental BPS equation is the Fueter equation. I will explain how studying certain boundary value problems for the Fueter equation, one is lead to something resembling a higher categorical structure. I will then argue how a similar structure also seems to appear after performing a massive deformation by a hyperKahler moment map. 

Zoom link:  https://pitp.zoom.us/j/96574302292?pwd=dkpIVXN0UmFiRkdkenFzc2o2Nko0dz09

The Deligne-Mumford moduli space of genus 0 curves plays many roles in representation theory.  For example, the fundamental group of its real locus is the cactus group which acts on tensor products of crystals.

I will discuss a variant on this space which parametrizes "cactus flower curves".  The fundamental group of the real locus of this space is the virtual cactus group.  This moduli space of cactus flower curves is also the parameter space for inhomogeneous Gaudin algebras.

Zoom link:  https://pitp.zoom.us/j/96658223425?pwd=NUxRN2FsdWJ1SWtHMlRDcTdHMGNPQT09

I'll explain work in progress, joint with Miroslav Rapcak, on geometric constructions of vertex algebras associated to divisors in toric Calabi-Yau threefolds, in terms of moduli stacks of objects in certain exotic abelian subcategories of complexes of coherent sheaves on the underlying threefold. These vertex algebras were originally proposed by Gaiotto-Rapcak, and constructed mathematically in the example of affine space by Rapcak-Soibelman-Yang-Zhao, building on Schiffmann-Vasserot's proof of the AGT conjecture. We give a geometric explanation and generalization of the quivers with potential that feature in the latter results, and outline the analogous construction of vertex algebras in this setting.

Zoom link:  https://pitp.zoom.us/j/93749710253?pwd=Y3NUTHBXZ3FPQUdPU0E0d0ttVzFFdz09

The Morita 2-category has as objects associative algebras, 1-morphisms are bimodules and 2-morphisms are given by bimodule homomorphisms. Equivalent objects in this category are exactly Morita equivalent algebras. A vast generalisation of this as a higher category is the so-called higher Morita category, denoted Alg_n. It has two constructions, one due to Haugseng, and one due to Scheimbauer which uses (constructible) factorization algebras. In the latter, Gwilliam-Scheimbauer has proven that every object of Alg_n is n-dualizable. Hence, by the Cobordism Hypothesis, every object gives rise to an n-dimensional (fully extended framed) topological field theory. A natural question to ask is “Which objects of Alg_n are also (n+1)-dualizable?”. This talk is on work in progress (for n=2) to prove a conjecture due to Lurie answering this question. 

Zoom link: https://pitp.zoom.us/j/98595913913?pwd=Vlo1aWtXVlZBVjYxNFlTM2VZY2s3Zz09

We present a series of (partly proven) conjectures
describing geometric realizations of
categories of (finite-dimensional) representations of quantum
super-groups U_q(g) corresponding
to Lie super-algebras g with reductive even part and a non-degenerate
invariant form.
We shall also discuss the meaning of these conjectures from the point
of view of local geometric Langlands correspondence as well as a
connection to the work of Ben-Zvi, Sakellaridis and Venkatesh.
Based on joint works with M.Finkelberg, V.Ginzburg and R.Travkin as
well as the work of R.Travkin and R.Yang.