Ryan Matzke, Vanderbilt University

Abstract: TBD

A great deal of study has been devoted to energies involving two-particle interactions. Such systems have applications in discrete geometry, signal processing, and modeling various natural phenomena (e.g., electrostatic or gravitational energy), among others. Energies involving many-particle interactions are far less understood, which have been appearing recently to improve upon previous results in discrete geometry…

A great deal of study has been devoted to energies involving two-particle interactions. Such systems have applications in discrete geometry, signal processing, and modeling various natural phenomena (e.g., electrostatic or gravitational energy), among others. Energies involving many-particle interactions are far less understood, which have been appearing recently to improve upon previous results in discrete geometry (such as bounds for optimal codes and kissing numbers) which made use of two-particle interactions. In this talk, we will discuss recent work in developing general theory for energy optimization with multivariate potentials (i.e. ones that model many-particle interactions), and some connections and applications. In particular, we will discuss geometric kernels, such powers of the volume of a simplex generated by k points (a multivariate generalization of Riesz kernels). The work in this talk has been in collaboration with Dmitriy Bilyk (University of Minnesota), Damir Ferizovic (KU Leuven), Alexey Glazyrin (University of Texas Rio Grande Valley), Josiah Park (Texas A&M University), and Oleksandr Vlasiuk (Vanderbilt University).

Michael Johnson- Harvard- Smithsonian- Daniel Kapec- Harvard- CMSA

Sifan Yu, Vanderbilt University

Abstract: TBA.

Peter Huston- Vanderbilt University

Fracton phases of matter are classes of physical models, related to topological phases of matter, in which quasiparticles exhibit subdimensional mobility. Recently, networks of defects between topological phases have been proposed as a way of understanding fracton order in (3+1)D. In this talk, I will introduce fracton order from the perspective of topological defect networks. I will then describe recent joint work with Fiona Burnell and Dave Penneys on understanding (2+1)D slices of such defect networks using 3-categories of enriched fusion categories.

Abstract: TBA

Daniel Kapec- Harvard University

Abstract- TBD

Jorge Noronha, UIUC

Abstract- TBD

Christopher Monahan- William and Mary University

Abstract- TBD

Veronica Dexheimer, Kent State University

The high densities achieved in neutron stars and the high densities and temperatures achieved in neutron-star mergers create ideal testing grounds in which to learn about exotic matter, namely hyperons and deconfined quarks. The presence of exotic matter can strongly affect the interior of neutron stars, but cannot be directly observed. New electromagnetic and gravitational-wave constraints have been slowly constraining the dense QCD equation of state, allowing us to learn important information about the strong interaction. Nevertheless, strong constraints on dense and hot matter depend on (a) the not yet observed post-merger period of gravitational-wave production from neutron-star mergers and (b) non-trivial comparisons with particle collision experimental data. In this talk, I discuss where we stand and what we expect to learn about dense matter in the near future.

Bill Press- UT Austin

Abstract- TBD

James Dent- ULL

Abstract- TBD

https://my.vanderbilt.edu/mathbio/

Andrew Strominger- Harvard University

Abstract- TBD

Edgar Shaghoulian- University of Pennsylvania

Abstract- TBD

Charles Gale- McGill University

Abstract- TBD

Mark Trodden- University of Pennsylvania

Abstract- TBD

Frans Pretorius- Princeton University

Abstract- TBD