Back to Departmental Colloquium: Fall 1999
Departmental Colloquium
Date: Thursday, Sep 30, 1999
Time: 4:15PM
Location: JWB 335
Aaron Bertram
Title |
Algebraic geometry at the end of the universe |
Abstract |
In the mid-1980’s, a small group of theoretical physicists studying string theory approached algebraic geometers with a curious proposition. Aside from the four classical space-time dimensions, our universe ought to have six dimensions curled up in a very small compact manifold V. Moreover, from considerations of (super)-symmetry, this manifold ought to have the following additional properties, placing it in the realm of algebraic geometry: V is a complex manifold with a Kähler form; V is simply connected; V admits a non-degenerate volume form. From these beginnings an extraordinary interaction has developed between string theorists and algebraic geometers, which I will attempt to paint in broad strokes. |
Algebraic Geometry
Commutative Algebra
Topology