The faculty from the number theory group will each give a brief overview of what we do for research.
Open House
Nov. 12, 2024 1:25pm (Math 3…
Geometry/Analysis
Gregory Berkolaiko (Texas A&M)
X
In this overview talk we will explore a variational approach to the problem of Spectral Minimal Partitions (SMPs). The problem is to partition a domain or a manifold into k subdomains so that the first Dirichlet eigenvalue on each subdomain is as small as possible. We expand the problem to consider Spectral Critical Partitions (partitions where the max of the Dirichlet eigenvalues is experiencing a critical point) and show that a locally minimal bipartite partition is automatically globally minimal.
Extensions of this result to non-bipartite partitions, as well as its connections to counting nodal domains of the eigenfunctions and to a two-sided Dirichlet-to-Neumann map defined on the partition boundaries, will also be discussed.
The talk is based on joint papers with Yaiza Canzani, Graham Cox, Bernard Helffer, Peter Kuchment, Jeremy Marzuola, Uzy Smilansky and Mikael Sundqvist.
Spectral minimal partitions: local vs global minimality
We classify the possible types of minimal operations above an arbitrary permutation group. Above the trivial group, a theorem of Rosenberg says that there are five types of minimal operations. We show that above any non-trivial permutation group there are at most four such types. Indeed, except above Boolean groups acting freely on a set, there are only three. In particular, this is the case for oligomorphic permutation groups, for which we improve a result of Bodirsky and Chen. Building on these results, we answer some questions of Bodirsky related to infinite-domain constraint satisfaction problems (CSPs). This is joint work with Michael Pinsker.
Moved to online https://cuboulder.zoom.us/j/93758128989
In this talk we'll touch on how an Euler class valued in equivariant homotopical bordism can reveal conserved symmetries in the solutions to equivariant enumerative problems. We apply this idea in joint work with C. Bethea to compute bitangents to symmetric plane quartics where we will see that homotopical techniques directly reveal patterns which are not obvious from a classical moduli perspective. We will also discuss ongoing work with S. Raman, in which we initiate a study of Galois groups of symmetric enumerative problems, leveraging tools from Hodge theory and computational numerical analysis.
Open House