Tuesday, 29-Oct-2024 

Abstract

It is a long-standing problem to give mathematical axioms that rigorously capture quantum field theory. This problem seems quite far from a complete resolution, but attempts at solving it have a pleasant tendency to uncover interesting mathematics. This talk will give a tour of some of the mathematics which arises in the formalization of a special class of quantum field theories called conformal field theories. Along the way I will highlight a few key challenges that arise when attempting to rigorously describe these theories. Topics that I will touch on include operator theory and operator algebras, quantum algebra and tensor categories, and new complex-geometric structures.

Speaker

James Tener (ANU)

Research area

Pure Mathematics

Affilation

Australian National University

Date

Tuesday 29 Oct 2024, 12:05 pm

Location

Room 4082, Anita B. Lawrence