Topology and Geometry Seminar

Speaker: Francis Bischoff

Abstract: The fundamental principle of derived deformation theory is that a formal “space” (i.e. a formal moduli problem) can be encoded by a differential graded Lie algebra. The plan for our learning seminar this term will be to unpack and understand this statement. For the first talk of the seminar, I will give some motivation and outline the big picture. In particular, I will present a very illuminating example of the principle: how to encode the "derived" vanishing locus of a function into a Lie (or L-infinity) algebra using the Taylor expansion. 

References: How does a Lie algebra encode a space (Part 1, Part 2)

Speaker: Allen Herman

Abstract: If A is an algebra over a field k, and R is an augmented commutative k-algebra, then an R-deformation of A is (intuitively) an R-algebra B whose underlying k-algebra structure is isomorphic to that of A. Two R-deformations of A are considered equivalent when there is an R-algebra isomorphism between the two that reduces to the expected isomorphism of their underlying k-algebra structures. In this talk we will see that in the cases R = k[[t]] (formal deformations) and R=k[t]/(t^2) (infinitesimal deformations), the equivalence classes of R-deformations of A can be understood using tools from Hochschild cohomology.

Reference: Deformation Theory (Lecture notes)

Speaker: Martin Frankland

Abstract: In Allen's talk, we learned that the deformations of an algebra A can be classified by certain Hochschild cohomology classes. Before we delve into that classification, we must familiarize ourselves with Hochschild cohomology, which is the goal of this talk. We will look at a few definitions and examples.

Reference: Deformation Theory (Lecture notes)

Title: Inverse Galois Theory as Thor's Hammer

Abstract: The action of the automorphisms of a formal group on its deformation space is crucial to understanding periodic families in the homotopy groups of spheres and the unsolved Hecke orbit conjecture for unitary Shimura varieties. We can explicitly pin down this squirming action by geometrically modeling it as coming from an action on a moduli space, which we construct using inverse Galois theory and some representation theory (a Hurwitz space). I will show you pretty pictures.

Recording:  https://youtu.be/pVMGf6EC61A

Title: Classifying involutions of Azumaya algebras

Abstract: This is joint work with Uriya First. Azumaya algebras are objects that are locally isomorphic to matrix algebras—over a topological space X, they are bundles of matrix algebras. If the base space X is endowed with a self-map of order 2 (which may be trivial) t:X->X, then a t-involution of an Azumaya algebra A over X is a map s: A ->A of order 2 that preserves addition, reverses multiplication, and is compatible with t. These involutions are analogues of transposition or hermitian conjugation of matrix algebras. I will explain a coarse classification of these involutions into types, depending on the base involution t, and produce some exotic examples.

Speaker: Martin Frankland

Abstract: We will discuss the link between Hochschild cohomology and deformations of an algebra A. We will see that the Hochschild cochains of A can be endowed with a differential graded (DG) Lie algebra structure. The Maurer-Cartan equation describes the solutions to the deformation problem. In this way, the DG Lie algebra can recover the cohomological classification.

Reference: Deformation Theory (Lecture notes)

Title: Towards a discretization of Chern-Simons theory

Abstract: We will describe a discretization of Chern-Simons theory using Whitney forms. Derived moduli spaces are often described using L-infinity algebras and it is interesting to explore how a derived moduli space varies as we modify the 'governing L-infinity algebra' by a homotopy. In this example, we utilize the well-known Dupont homotopy operator to define a discretization of the infinite-dimensional DGLA controlling the moduli problem relevant to Chern-Simons theory. In doing so, we can describe an ( ind-) finite-dimensional model for a derived enhancement of the moduli space of flat connections on an oriented closed 3-manifold M equipped with a triangulation K_M. This derived moduli space has a -1-shifted symplectic structure which also comes with 'geometric quantization data'. This can be used to define a 3-manifold invariant, which can be viewed as a discretization of Witten's Chern-Simons partition function invariant for 3-manifolds.

Recording: https://youtu.be/qRJKkSE2woU

Speaker: Francis Bischoff

Abstract: In this seminar, we have seen that problems in deformation theory are often controlled by differential graded Lie algebras (dgla). For example, in Martin's talk, we saw how the deformations of an associative algebra are controlled by a dgla structure on the Hochschild cochain complex. In this talk and the next, will see an instance of this phenomenon coming from geometry: the theory of flat connections on a smooth manifold. 

In part 1, we will cover the background material about connections on smooth manifolds. 

Speaker: Francis Bischoff

Abstract: In this seminar, we have seen that problems in deformation theory are often controlled by differential graded Lie algebras (dgla). For example, in Martin's talk, we saw how the deformations of an associative algebra are controlled by a dgla structure on the Hochschild cochain complex. In this talk and the next, will see an instance of this phenomenon coming from geometry: the theory of flat connections on a smooth manifold.

In part 2, we will see that the deformations of flat connections on a smooth manifold are parametrized by the solutions to the Maurer-Cartan equation in a suitable dgla.

Speaker: Martin Frankland

Abstract: So far, we learned that a deformation problem is controlled by a DG Lie algebra, and that solutions to the deformation problem correspond to Maurer-Cartan (MC) elements. However, different MC elements may yield equivalent deformations! The DG Lie algebra gives rise to a group called the gauge group, which acts on the space of MC elements. Two MC elements yield equivalent deformations if and only if they are related by the gauge action. We will illustrate this machinery in the case of deformations of algebras.

Speaker: Don Stanley

Abstract: We will introduce rational homotopy theory through the CDGA approach and discuss formal and non-formal spaces. We will then move on to a moduli problem related to the homotopy type of complements of polyhedra in closed manifolds.

Speaker: Manak Singh

Abstract: TBA

Speaker: Matt Alexander

Abstract: TBA

Speaker: Carlos Gabriel Valenzuela

Abstract: TBA