This will be a working meeting. There will therefore be the usual time for
participant discussion.
This talk will be something of a progress report on joint work with Sarah Whitehouse aimed at understanding the structure of unstable operations of cohomology theories. I shall show how the theory as we understand it fits into a general picture of monoids in certain categories that arise naturally in general [universal] algebra. The benefit of this approach is that by describing unstable operations in algebraic terms (i.e. as some sort of generalised algebra) one can start looking for nice generating sets and try to devise some simple descriptions. I shall start by outlining the simple general theory underlying this approach, show how cohomology theories fit into the picture, and end with some simple examples.
Note for Sheffield topologists: this is an update of the talk I gave at the Sheffield Algebra and Topology seminar; the central idea is still the same but we have a much better understanding of the general theory which makes the whole thing - hopefully - more straightforward.
Thomas Huettemann
"Enumerating lattice points using line bundles"
Abstract: A subset S of R^n defines a formal Laurent series in n indeterminates, the lattice points of S corresponding to the exponent vectors of the monomials occurring in the series. In this way, a polytope P with integral vertices gives rise to a Laurent polynomial, but also to several Laurent series corresponding to certain cones associated to the vertices of P. I will explain a surprising theorem of Brion relating these series to the original polynomial, and present a generalisation using the language of toric geometry which allows to treat the more general case of "virtual polytopes" as well.
Rui Reis
Abstract: In the spirit of Paul Baum's and Ronald Douglas' geometric description of K-homology, I'll describe the analogous construction for KO-homology. Namely, an element in the KO-homology of a space X can be represented by a triple (M,E,f), where M is a closed spin manifold, E is a real vector bundle over M, and f is a continuous map from M to X. These triples can be interpreted as D-branes in type I string theory, and the element of the KO-homology group it represents can be interpreted as its charge. The relevant feature of the construction is its relation to analytic KO-homology, namely proving that the two theories are isomorphic, which one achieves by considering, as in the complex case, an appropriate index theorem, the Cl_n index theorem in the case of KO-homology.
Anyone who wishes to participate is welcome: we shall operate the usual
arrangements for assistance with travel expenses. We expect to assemble for tea
and coffee in I15, Floor 5, from 11.00 am until the first talk. Each lecture
will take place in Room J11 of the Hicks Building, Hounsfield Road,
Sheffield.
Tea and Coffee will be served in the common room I15.
For
further information email John Greenlees j.greenlees@sheffield.ac.uk, (or
John Hunton jrh7@mcs.le.ac.uk or Nige Ray
nige@ma.man.ac.uk) if you are interested,
so we can make approximately the right amount of tea and coffee.