Mathematical Conversations

Projective planes satisfying certain symmetry conditions correspond to non-associative division algebras, by the work of Hilbert, Dickson, Albert, Wedderburn and Veblen. Knuth began the attempt to classify them over finite fields, and very few examples are known. I will relate relate this to an elementary problem in linear subspaces of matrix algebras, and show how some families are classified by etale cohomology.

About Mathematical Conversations: We meet in Harry's Bar at 6pm, where free drinks are provided. After 20 minutes, we move to the Dilworth room, where the speaker gives a 20-minute talk, followed by 15 minutes of discussion with the audience. After that we return to the bar for further discussions.