Seminars Sorted by Series

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

Sep
26
2014

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

Symmetric differentials and the fundamental group
11:15am|S-101

Esnault asked whether a smooth complex projective variety with infinite fundamental group has a nonzero symmetric differential, meaning a section of some symmetric power of the cotangent bundle. We prove a partial result in this direction, using...

Sep
30
2014

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

The Fano variety of lines and rationality problem for a cubic hypersurface
11:00am|Physics Library, Bloomberg Hall 201

The relevant preprints are: arXiv:1405.5154 "The Fano variety of lines and rationality problem for a cubic hypersurface", Sergey Galkin, Evgeny Shinder arXiv:1405.4902 "On two rationality conjectures for cubic fourfolds", Nicolas Addington

Sep
30
2014

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

Tropical currents
3:30pm|S-101

I will outline a construction of "tropical current", a positive closed current associated to a tropical variety. I will state basic properties of tropical currents, and discuss how tropical currents are related to a version of Hodge conjecture for...

Oct
01
2014

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

The topology of proper toric maps
Mark Andrea de Cataldo
11:15am|S-101

I will discuss some of the topology of the fibers of proper toric maps and a combinatorial invariant that comes out of this picture. Joint with Luca Migliorini and Mircea Mustata.

Oct
07
2014

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

On Euler-Poincaré characteristics
Mark Andrea de Cataldo
11:00am|Physics Library, Bloomberg Hall 201

Report on R. Virk's arXiv:1406.4855v3. This is a fun, short and simple note with variations on the well-known theme by G. Laumon that the Euler characteristics with and without compact supports coincide.

Oct
07
2014

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

Chow rings and modified diagonals
2:00pm|S-101

Beauville and Voisin proved that decomposable cycles (intersections of divisors) on a projective K3 surface span a 1-dimensional subspace of the (infinite-dimensional) group of 0-cycles modulo rational equivalence. I will address the following...

Oct
07
2014

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

Two counterexamples arising from infinite sequences of flops
John Lesieutre
3:30pm|S-101

I will explain how infinite sequences of flops give rise to some interesting phenomena: first, an infinite set of smooth projective varieties that have equivalent derived categories but are not isomorphic; second, a pseudoeffective divisor for which...

Oct
08
2014

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

The construction problem for Hodge numbers
Stefan Schreieder
11:15am|S-101

What are the possible Hodge numbers of a smooth complex projective variety? We construct enough varieties to show that many of the Hodge numbers can take all possible values satisfying the constraints given by Hodge theory. For example, there are...

Oct
21
2014

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

Positive cones of higher (co)dimensional numerical cycle classes
Mihai Fulger
2:00pm|S-101

It is classical to study the geometry of projective varieties over algebraically closed fields through the properties of various positive cones of divisors or curves. Several counterexamples have shifted attention from the higher (co)dimensional...

Oct
21
2014

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

The structure of instability in moduli theory
3:30pm|S-101

In many examples of moduli stacks which come equipped with a notion of stable points, one tests stability by considering "iso-trivial one parameter degenerations" of a point in the stack. To such a degeneration one can often associate a real number...

Oct
22
2014

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

Extending differential forms and the Lipman-Zariski conjecture
Sándor Kovács
11:15am|S-101

The Lipman-Zariski conjecture states that if the tangent sheaf of a complex variety is locally free then the variety is smooth. In joint work with Patrick Graf we prove that this holds whenever an extension theorem for differential 1-forms holds, in...

Oct
28
2014

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

Singular moduli spaces and Nakajima quiver varieties
2:00pm|S-101

The aim of this talk is to study a class of singularities of moduli spaces of sheaves on K3 surfaces by means of Nakajima quiver varieties. The singularities in question arise from the choice of a non generic polarization, with respect to which we...

Oct
29
2014

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

Mirror symmetry & Looijenga's conjecture
Philip Engel
11:15am|S-101

A cusp singularity is an isolated surface singularity whose minimal resolution is a cycle of smooth rational curves meeting transversely. Cusp singularities come in naturally dual pairs. In the 1980's Looijenga conjectured that a cusp singularity is...

Nov
04
2014

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

Birational Actions of \(\mathrm{SL}(n,\mathbb Z)\) I
Serge Cantat
11:00am|Physics Library, Bloomberg Hall 201

Consider a smooth complex projective variety \(M\). To understand the group of birational transformations (resp. regular automorphisms) of \(M\), one can use tools from Hodge theory, dynamical systems, and geometric group theory. I shall try to...

Nov
04
2014

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

Beauville's splitting principle for Chow rings of projective hyperkaehler manifolds
2:00pm|S-101

Being the natural generalization of K3 surfaces, hyperkaehler varieties, also known as irreducible holomorphic symplectic varieties, are one of the building blocks of smooth projective varieties with trivial canonical bundle. One of the guiding...

Nov
05
2014

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

Elliptic genera of Pfaffian-Grassmannian double mirrors
11:15am|S-101

For an odd integer \(n > 3\) the data of generic n-dimensional subspace of the space of skew bilinear forms on an n-dimensional vector space define two different Calabi-Yau varieties of dimension \(n-4\). Specifically, one is a complete intersection...

Nov
11
2014

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

Birational Actions of \(\mathrm{SL}(n,\mathbb Z)\) II
Serge Cantat
11:00am|Physics Library, Bloomberg Hall 201

Consider a smooth complex projective variety \(M\). To understand the group of birational transformations (resp. regular automorphisms) of \(M\), one can use tools from Hodge theory, dynamical systems, and geometric group theory. I shall try to...

Nov
11
2014

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

Mixed Hodge theory: some intuitions
2:00pm|S-101

I will try to explain some intuitions and some history about (mixed) Hodge theory. Warning: the experts will not learn anything new.

Nov
11
2014

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

Zarhin's trick and geometric boundedness results for K3 surfaces
François Charles
3:30pm|S-101

Tate's conjecture for divisors on algebraic varieties can be rephrased as a finiteness statement for certain families of polarized varieties with unbounded degrees. In the case of abelian varieties, the geometric part of these finiteness statements...

Nov
12
2014

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

Universal Chow group of zero-cycles on cubic hypersurfaces
11:15am|S-101

We discuss the universal triviality of the \(\mathrm{CH}_0\)-group of cubic hypersurfaces, or equivalently the existence of a Chow-theoretic decomposition of their diagonal. The motivation is the study of stable irrationality for these varieties...

Nov
18
2014

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

Boundedness of log general type pairs I
11:00am|Physics Library, Bloomberg Hall 201

We will discuss the boundedness of log general type pairs, with the aim on proving the moduli of KSBA stable varieties is bounded.

Nov
18
2014

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

The geometry and topology of rational surfaces with an anticanonical cycle
Robert Friedman
2:00pm|S-101

Let \(Y\) be a smooth rational surface and let \(D\) be an effective divisor linearly equivalent to \(-K_Y\), such that \(D\) is a cycle of smooth rational curves. Such pairs \((Y,D)\) arise in many contexts, for example in the study of...

Nov
19
2014

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

Birational geometry of complex hyperbolic manifolds
Gabriele di Cerbo
11:15am|S-101

In 1984 Hirzebruch constructed the first examples of smooth toroidal compactifications of ball quotients with non-nef canonical divisor. In this talk, I will show that if the dimension is greater or equal than three then such examples cannot exist...

Nov
25
2014

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

Boundedness of log general type pairs II
11:00am|Physics Library, Bloomberg Hall 201

We will discuss the boundedness of log general type pairs, with the aim on proving the moduli of KSBA stable varieties is bounded.

Dec
02
2014

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

Degeneration of Fano Kahler-Einstein manifolds
Xiaowei Wang
11:00am|Physics Library, Bloomberg Hall 201

In this talk, we will discuss the local geometry of the closure of orbit space that parametrising smooth Fano manifolds inside certain Chow/Hilbert scheme. In particular, we will discuss the separatedness of the moduli of smoothable $K$-polystable $...

Dec
03
2014

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

Minimal log discrepancy of isolated singularities and Reeb orbits
11:15am|S-101

Let $A$ be an affine variety inside a complex $N$ dimensional vector space which either has an isolated singularity at the origin or is smooth at the origin. The intersection of $A$ with a very small sphere turns out to be a contact manifold called...

Dec
09
2014

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

The Andre-Oort conjecture I
11:00am|Physics Library, Bloomberg Hall 201

The Andre-Oort conjecture describes the expected distribution of special points on Shimura varieties (typically: the distribution in the moduli space of principally polarized Abelian varieties of points corresponding to Abelian varieties with...

Dec
09
2014

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

A support theorem for the Hitchin fibration
2:00pm|S-101

The main tool in Ngô's proof of the Langlands-Shelstad fundamental lemma, is a theorem on the support of the relative cohomology of the elliptic part of the Hitchin fibration. For $\mathrm{GL}(n)$ and a divisor of degree $ > 2g-2$, the theorem says...

Dec
10
2014

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

The Andre-Oort conjecture II
11:00am|S-101

The Andre-Oort conjecture describes the expected distribution of special points on Shimura varieties (typically: the distribution in the moduli space of principally polarized Abelian varieties of points corresponding to Abelian varieties with...

Dec
16
2014

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

The Archimedean Height and singularities in Hodge Theory
Patrick Brosnan
11:00am|Physics Library, Bloomberg Hall 201

In the theory of algebraic cycles, the archimedean height is a real number attached to null-homologous non-intersecting algebraic cycles on a smooth projective variety \(X\) whose dimensions add up to one less than the dimension of \(X\). For...

Dec
16
2014

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

Some algebro-geometric aspects of limiting mixed Hodge structure
Phillip Griffiths
2:00pm|S-101

This will be an expository talk, mostly drawn from the literature and with emphasis on the several parameter case of degenerating families of algebraic varieties.

Dec
17
2014

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

Periods, Calabi-Yau fibrations, and mirror symmetry
Charles Doran
11:15am|S-101

A decade ago, John Morgan and I classified all integral weight 3 VHS of Hodge type (1,1,1,1) which can underly a family of Calabi-Yau three folds over the thrice-punctured sphere, subject to conditions on monodromy coming from mirror symmetry. There...

Jan
13
2015

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

Normal functions and the geometry of moduli spaces of curves
Richard Hain
2:00pm|S-101

In this talk, I will begin by recalling the classification of normal functions over $\mathcal M_{g,n}$, the moduli space of $n$-pointed smooth projective curves of genus $g$. I'll then explain how they can be used to resolve a question of Eliashberg...

Jan
14
2015

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

Stable cohomology of compactifications of $\mathcal A_g$
11:15am|S-101

A famous result of Borel says that the cohomology of $\mathcal A_g$ stabilizes. This was generalized to the Satake compactification by Charney and Lee. In this talk we will discuss whether the result can also be extended to toroidal...

Jan
20
2015

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

On descending cohomology geometrically
Sebastian Casalaina-Martin
2:00pm|S-101

In this talk I will present some joint work with Jeff Achter concerning the problem of determining when the cohomology of a smooth projective variety over the rational numbers can be modeled by an abelian variety. The primary motivation is a problem...

Jan
21
2015

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

A birational model of the Cartwright-Steger surface
Igor Dolgachev
11:15am|S-101

A Cartwright-Steger surface is a complex ball quotient by a certain arithmetic cocompact group associated to the cyclotomic field $Q(e^{2\pi i/12})$, its numerical invariants are with $c_1^2 = 3c_2 = 9, p_g = q = 1$. It is a cyclic degree 3 cover of...

Jan
28
2015

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

Toric chordality and applications
Karim Adiprasito
11:15am|S-101

Inspired by the elementary notion of graph chordality, we introduce the notion of toric chordality, which naturally gives a tool to to study the geometry and combinatorics of cohomology classes of toric varieties and the weight algebras of polytopes...

Feb
03
2015

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

On the homology and the tree of $SL_2$ over polynomial rings, and reflexive sheaves of rank 2 on projective spaces I
11:00am|Physics Library, Bloomberg Hall 201

We will first quickly recall basic facts on the tree of SL_2 over a field K with a discrete valuation v, following Serre's book. We will then generalize the geometric interpretation given in that book for curves to a higher dimensional situation...

Feb
03
2015

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

Moduli of degree 4 K3 surfaces revisited
2:00pm|S-101

For low degree K3 surfaces there are several way of constructing and compactifying the moduli space (via period maps, via GIT, or via KSBA). In the case of degree 2 K3 surface, the relationship between various compactifications is well understood by...

Feb
10
2015

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

On the homology and the tree of $SL_2$ over polynomial rings, and reflexive sheaves of rank 2 on projective spaces II
11:00am|Physics Library, Bloomberg Hall 201

We will first quickly recall basic facts on the tree of SL_2 over a field K with a discrete valuation v, following Serre's book. We will then generalize the geometric interpretation given in that book for curves to a higher dimensional situation...

Feb
10
2015

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

Extending the Prym map
Samuel Grushevsky
2:00pm|S-101

The Torelli map associates to a genus g curve its Jacobian - a $g$-dimensional principally polarized abelian variety. It turns out, by the works of Mumford and Namikawa in the 1970s (resp. Alexeev and Brunyate in 2010s), that the Torelli map extends...

Feb
11
2015

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

Algebraic curves, tropical geometry, and moduli
11:15am|S-101

Tropical geometry gives a new approach to understanding old questions about algebraic curves and their moduli spaces, synthesizing techniques that range from Berkovich spaces to elementary combinatorics. I will discuss an outline of this method...

Feb
17
2015

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

Proper base change for zero cycles
2:00pm|S-101

We study the restriction map to the closed fiber for the Chow group of zero-cycles over a complete discrete valuation ring. It turns out that, for proper families of varieties and for certain finite coefficients, the restriction map is an...

Feb
18
2015

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

The cohomology groups of Hilbert schemes and compactified Jacobians of planar curves
11:15am|S-101

I will first discuss a relation between the cohomology groups (with rational coefficients) of the compactified Jacobian and those of the Hilbert schemes of a projective irreducible curve $C$ with planar singularities, which extends the classical...

Feb
24
2015

Topology of Algebraic Varieties

Projectivity of the moduli space of KSBA stable pairs and applications
Zsolt Patakfalvi
2:00pm|S-101

KSBA (Kollár-Shepherd-Barron-Alexeev) stable pairs are higher dimensional generalizations of (weighted) stable pointed curves. I will present a joint work in progress with Sándor Kovács on proving the projectivity of this moduli space, by showing...