CAS Head - 050809

Fall 2009
Wednesdays at 4PM in MB3201 
September 23

Amine Fawaz: "Applications of Harmonic Maps in Geometry"

Abstract: In this talk we interpret harmonic maps as critical points of the energy functional. We also define and interpret the energy of foliations on Riemann surfaces equipped with metrics of constant curvature.
October 7

Brian Hagler: “Optimal Gaussian Quadrature”

Abstract: Classical Gaussian quadrature is anchored in the space of real polynomials at polynomial degree 0 and is monotonically directed by successively increasing polynomial degree. Recent research, showing that it’s possible to weigh anchor and chart various courses in search of the best currents in the superspace of real Laurent polynomials, is presented.
October 21

Chris Hiatt: “Quantum Traces in Quantum Teichmuller Theory”

Abstract: In this talk I will show the construction of the quantum analog of the trace function on the Teichmuller space of the once-punctured torus and the four-time punctured sphere. This construction is based purely on the algebraic formulation of the quantum Teichmuller space developed by F. Bonahon and X. Liu.
November 4

Xinyun Zhu: “Whittaker Modules for a Lie Algebra of Blocktype”

Abstract: In this talk, we study Whittaker modules for Lie algebras of Block type. We define Whittaker modules and under some conditions, obtain a one to one correspondence between the set of isomorphic classes of Whittaker modules over this algebra and the set of ideals of a polynomial ring, parallel to a result from the classical setting and the case of the Virasoro algebra.
November 18

Paul Feit: Title to be announced

Abstract: To be announced