MPIM Math-Phys Seminar

Organized by David Aretz and myself. Contact: {aretz, prinz}@mpim-bonn.mpg.de

A learning seminar about different topics in Mathematical Physics, broadly around Quantum Field Theory, Algebraic Topology and Differential Geometry. Our meetings are hosted by an assigned speaker, who gives an informal introduction to his topic. Alongside, we will have questions from the audience, which typically lead to a lively discussion.

Official MPIM seminar webpage, this webpage might be more up to date though.

We meet typically on Thursdays at 11:30 a.m. in the MPIM Seminar Room (see the exceptions below).

Topics

We have decided on the following three main topics, with some additional points that we would like to cover:

Supersymmetric Quantum Field Theories:

• Supergeometry
• Atiyah–Singer theorem
• Morse theory

Conformal Field Theories:

• Representation theory
• Kac–Moody and vertex algebras
• Line bundles
• Loop groups
• Conformal blocks

(Perturbative) Chern–Simons Theory:

• BV formalism
• Knot theory
• Kontsevich integral (with link to supersymmetry)

Talks

February 1:

• Clarifying organizational issues, setting up schedule
• David Aretz: “Supersymmetric Quantum Mechanics”

February 8:

• No meeting due to carneval

February 15:

• David Aretz: “Supersymmetric Quantum Mechanics, Part 2”

February 22:

• David Prinz: “Supersymmetric Quantum Field Theory”

February 29:

• Jonah Epstein: “The Atiyah–Singer Index Theorem, Revisited From Supersymmetry”

March 6 (Wednesday, 11:30 a.m.) in MPIM Lecture Hall:

• Daniel Bermudez: “Conformal Field Theory and Conformal Blocks”

March 14 in MPIM Lecture Hall:

• Werner Nahm: “Euclidean Quantum Field Theory in One Axiom” -> Abstract

March 20 (Wednesday, 12:00 a.m.) in MPIM Lecture Hall:

• Paolo Tomasini: “Some Aspects of Vertex Algebras” -> Abstract

March 28:

• Jiadong Han: “Conformal Blocks and Generalized Theta Functions”

April 4:

• Sid Maibach: “Fundamental Aspects of Conformal Field Theory and their Mathematical Formulations” -> Abstract

April 11:

• Peter Moody: “Little Group Method” -> Abstract

April 18:

• Philip Schwartz: “Teleparallel Newton—Cartan Gravity” -> Abstract

April 26 (Friday, 11:30 a.m.) in MPIM Lecture Hall:

• Bernd Sturmfels: “Minimal Kinematics on $\mathcal{M}_{0,n}$” -> Abstract