Mathematics Seminars at ICTP - THIS WEEK

[Math]

M A T H E M A T I C S   S E M I N A R S   2007


Professor Louis Hirsch Kauffman
(University of Illinois at Chicago)



Two (Extra) talks on Knot Theory



Thursday, 24 May at 15:00 hrs.

"Witten and Vassiliev - Physics and Knots"

Abstract:  This talk will describe Witten's quantum field theoretic  
approach to knot invariants, and how it is related to the subject of  
Vassiliev invariants and the deep relationship of Lie algebras and  
knot theory.



Friday, 25 May at 14:30 hrs.

"Khovanov Homology"

Abstract:  This talk will review the state sum definition of the  
bracket polynomial model for the Jones polynomial and show how one  
can associate a chain complex to these states so that the homology of  
the chain complex gives new topological information beyond the Jones  
polynomial.  This "categorification" of the Jones polynomial gives  
rise to many new research questions.


VENUE:  SEMINAR ROOM (Main Building, first floor)