University of Georgia
Department of Mathematics

Seminar Schedule
August 22-26, 2005
All Seminars are held in Boyd Graduate Studies Bldg. unless otherwise noted.

MONDAY, August 22, 2005

Algebra
2:00p.m., Room 410
Speaker: Dave Benson, University of Georgia
Title of talk: "Polynomial and power series invariants"

Topology/Geometry
2:30pm, Room 303
Organizational meeting for the topology and geometry seminar. We will discuss meeting times, visitors, and anything else that comes up.

Faculty and Graduate Social
3:00pm, Room 409

PhD oral
3:45p.m., Room 410
Speaker: Emille Davie, University of Georgia
Title: "The Burau representation is not faithful for n = 5"
Abstract: The Burau representation is a natural action of the braid group B_n on the free Z[t,t^-1]-module of rank n-1. It is an open problem to determine for which values of n this representation is faithful. Stephen Bigelow gives a beautiful topological description of the Burau representation and reduces its faithfulness to a geometric statement about the existence of certain arcs on the 5-punctured disk. With the aid of a computer search, Bigelow found arcs with the desired properties, thus proving that the Burau representation is not faithful for n >= 5.

TUESDAY, August 23, 2005

VIGRE-Graduate Student Seminar
2:00p.m., Room 303
Speaker: Robert Varley, University of Georgia
Title: VIGRE group introduction (mathematical physics): Feynman Diagrams

WEDNESDAY, August 24, 2005

Algebraic Geometry
2:30-3:45pm, Room 410
Speaker: Valery Alexeev, University of Georgia
Title of talk: New dimensions in Gromov-Witten theory
Abstract: Gromov-Witten invariants and quantum cohomology captivated many physicists and even more algebraic geometers during the last decade. I will talk about first steps in extending these invariants in a new, "perpendicular" direction. I will describe some approaches and pose lots of open questions.

Faculty and Graduate Social
3:00pm, Room 409
Coffee, Cookies, Tea

VIGRE-Algebra
3:30p.m. , Room 326
Speaker: Daniel Nakano, University of Georgia
Title of talk: Organizational meeting

VIGRE Algebraic Geometry Group
3:45 pm in room 303
Organizational Meeting

THURSDAY, August 25, 2005

VIGRE-Graduate Student Seminar
2:00p.m., Room 303
Speaker: Elizabeth Denne, Harvard University
Title of talk: The distortion of a knotted curve
Abstract: The distortion of a curve measures the maximum arc/chord length ratio. Gromov showed that any closed curve has distortion at least $\pi/2$ and asked about the distortion of knots. In this talk, I'll use the existence of an essential secant to show that a nontrivial knot of finite total curvature has distortion at least 4. No prior knowledge of knot theory will be assumed in this talk.