Math Phys seminar
Speaker: Daniel Fernández Moreno, University of Iceland
Title: The philosophy of emergent spacetime
Room: HB5 (Háskólabíó)
Time: Friday 18th October, 11:40hrs
Abstract:
One of the most startling observations in recent theoretical physics is that certain phenomena are better described as resulting from a higher dimensional spacetime. The gauge-gravity correspondence projects them into a surface infinitely far away. The existence of such a duality between two fully consistent physical theories reduces the number of spacetime dimensions to a mere choice, one that can be more or less useful depending on the physics we want to describe.
This observation brought forth the idea that Spacetime should be understood as an emergent property from quantum field theory. This is usually presented in abstract grounds, disconnected from its consequences on our theoretical perspective of fundamental physics. Consequences which challenge the basic intuitions from classical physics that are otherwise vastly useful in most situations. For this reason, as opposed to most seminars in the topic, this talk will ignore the structure of the reasoning and the mathematical rigor. Instead, I will present to you the topic of emergent Spacetime focused on gaining an intuitive feeling about the connection of such a seemingly abstract concept with the real world.
Math phys colloquium
Speaker: Danny Brattan, University of Genoa
Title: Hydrodynamical charge density wave description for transport in the strange metal phase of cuprates
Room: Naustið-Endurmenntun
Time: Wednesday 9th October, 11:00hrs
Abstract:
The mechanism controlling the exotic behavior of the transport properties in the strange metallic phase of high temperature superconductors is one of the main unresolved problems in condensed matter physics. I will discuss our recent paper (1909.07991) where we develop a framework for describing the hydrodynamics of charge density wave (CDW) order in a magnetic field (extending earlier theoretical developments) and where we determine the DC transport coefficients within this formalism. In this work we performed a complete characterization of the DC transport coefficients (including less common ones like transverse thermal conductivity and Nernst effect) of a single crystal of Bi-2201 close to optimal doping and we found complete self-consistent agreement of this data with the CDW model. This suggests CDW order may be sufficient to explain the unusual properties of the strange metal phase of the cuprates.
Math phys colloquium
Speaker: Emil Have, University of Edinburgh
Title: Newton-Cartan Submanifolds and Biophysical (Fluid) Membranes
Room L-201 Lögberg
Time: Tuesday 8th October, 11:00hrs
Abstract:
Originally developed to provide a geometric foundation for
Newtonian gravity, Newton-Cartan geometry and its torsionful generalization
have recently experienced a revival of interest, particularly in the contexts
of non-AdS holography and various condensed matter problems — notably the
quantum Hall effect. In this talk, I will describe a general theory of
Newton-Cartan submanifolds. A covariant description of non-relativistic fluids
on surfaces is an important open problem with a wide range of applications in
for example biophysics. Recasting ‘elastic’ models, such as the Canham-Helfrich
bending energy, in a Newton-Cartan setting allows for a covariant notion of
non-relativistic time and provides the ideal starting point for a treatment of
Galilean fluids on extremal submanifolds using the technology of hydrostatic
partition functions.
Math colloquium
Speaker: Henning Arnór
Úlfarsson, University of Reykjavík
Title: Pattern avoidance in various domains
Room: HB5 (Háskólabíó)
Time: Friday 25th October, 11:40hrs
Abstract:
When one searches the web for “pattern avoidance” most of the results are about pattern avoiding permutations and their variants, such as colored, partial, multi-, affine, signed, and poset permutations. However there are definitions and results about similar concepts in other objects, such as graphs and topological spaces. We will survey these examples of pattern avoidance as well as highlighting more recent variants, such as polyominoes, integer partitions and alternating sign matrices.
This talk will be accessible to any student who has walked past a room where discrete mathematics was being taught.
Math Phys seminar
Speaker: Jesús Zavala Franco, Háskóli Íslands and Javier Israel Reynoso
Córdoba, Universidad de Guanajuato
Title: The Boltzmann equation for a rarefied fluid in linear perturbation
theory
Room: HB5 (Háskólabíó)
Time: Friday 4th October, 11:40hrs
Abstract:
Linear perturbation theory is the basis upon which we understand the initial growth of density perturbations in the early Universe. This theory has been developed and studied extensively in two extreme regimes: i) the fluid regime and ii) the collisionless regime. The former is applicable to the photon-baryon plasma, while the latter is commonly used to describe dark matter. There is however, a relevant class of dark matter models, known generically as self-interacting dark matter, where the Knudsen number is around 1, which lies in between these regimes. Linear perturbation theory in this regime remains essentially unexplored, requiring a full treatment of the Collisional Boltzmann equation. In this talk, we will present an overview of the problem and present our preliminary progress towards describing this regime.
Applications are invited for a postdoctoral position at the University of Iceland financed by The Icelandic Research Fund. The research project is called:
“Scaling limits of random enriched trees”
and is in the field of probabilistic combinatorics. The project includes studying scaling limits of random graphs, statistical mechanical models on random planar maps and related subjects. The application deadline is October 15, 2019, however applications will continue to be accepted until the position is filled.
We are looking for a candidate who has completed a PhD within the last 5 years or is close to defending a PhD thesis. Her/his specialization and interests should be in this area.
Applications should be sent directly by e-mail to sigurdur[at]hi.is, including a CV, list of publications or an abstract of a planned PhD thesis, a research statement and names and e-mail addresses of two referees, who have agreed to provide recommendation.
The appointment is for two years from the 1st of Novenber 2019, or otherwise according to agreement All applications will be answered.
For further information please contact:
Prof. Sigurdur Orn Stefansson (e-mail: sigurdur[at]hi.is)
Speaker:
Björn Birnir, Center for Complex and Nonlinear Science at the
University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB)
Title:
When can we expect the Greenland glacier to melt?
Room: VR-II,V-258
Time: Tuesday 27nd August, 11:00hrs
Abstract:
It
was suggested by Rose (2005) that because of the migratory and
responsive nature of the capelin, a small pelagic fish that is key to
the ecology and fisheries of the North Atlantic, it can be viewed as
the “canary in the coalmine” to detect signals of
environmental changes in the Arctic Ocean. In this talk we will
combine analysis of data and extensive simulations of the migrations
of the capelin and its physiology to analyze the changes in the ocean
environment taking place over the last half-century. The
environmental data for the last thirty year is obtained from a
database called Copernicus, constructed by the European Union. Our
goals will be to understand and predict the migrations of the capelin
and its interactions with the ocean environment. We will explain how
these have changed over time and how they are likely to change in the
future. Then we will explain how our simulations can be compared with
data, with the aim of finding out the rate of the temperature changes
in the Arctic Ocean and when thresholds for major disruptions in
Arctic environments are likely to be reached. The recent changes in
the spawning routes of the capelin lead to a startling prediction.
Math Phys seminar
Speaker: Hólmfríður Sigríðar Hannesdóttir, Harvard University
Title: Infrared Finite S-matrix elements and Cross Section
Room: A-050
Time: Tuesday 27th August, 2:00 pm
Abstract:
Quantum field theory (QFT) works remarkably well for making theoretical predictions in collider scattering experiments. One of the fundamental objects in these calculations, the scattering matrix (S-matrix), is inspired by a well defined operator in non-relativistic quantum mechanics, but is plagued with both ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) divergences in QFT. The UV divergences are now understood through the program of renormalization, but IR divergences remain an active area of research. Three approaches have been explored to define IR finite quantities, which will all be discussed in this talk: i) The cross section method, ii) modification of the S-matrix, and iii) the dressed state formalism. The minimal set of processes required for a finite cross section will be examined, along with the need for forward scattering and disconnected diagrams. We will furthermore explore how the usual assumptions about evolution of the scattering states at asymptotic times are broken in a theory with massless particles, and how the universality of the interactions leading to IR divergences in such theories can be exploited to define finite S-matrix elements.
PhD midway evaluation
Speaker: Juan Fernando Angel Ramelli, HÍ
Title: Entanglement entropy of the quantum Lifshitz model
Room: A-050
Time: Tuesday 27th August, 09:00hrs
Abstract:
The quantum Lifshitz model (QLM) is a toy model used for studying scale invariant systems in which time and space scale on different footing. This type of behavior occurs, for example, in the context of critical phenomena. Entanglement entropy is a purely quantum measure of correlation between subsystems. It is a useful theoretical probe, as it encodes certain universal properties of critical models. I review the QLM as well as its generalization to higher dimensions, and show how to construct its excited states on compact manifolds. Through careful application of the replica method, I demonstrate that analytic results can be obtained for the entanglement entropy of both its ground state and its excited states.
Math Phys seminar
Speaker: Mohab Abou Zeid, Imperial College London
Title: T-duality in (2,1) superspace and SKT geometry
Room: VR-II, V-156
Time: Friday 23rd August, 14:00hrs
Abstract:
I will explain our recent derivation of the T-duality transformation rules for two-dimensional (2,1) supersymmetric sigma-models in (2,1) superspace. To this end I will first review the gauging of sigma-models in (2,1) superspace and present a new manifestly real and geometric expression for the gauged action. I will also discuss the obstructions to gauging (2,1) sigma-models and show that the obstructions to (2,1) T-duality are considerably weaker than the obstructions to gauging. Our complexified T-duality transformations are equivalent to the usual Buscher duality transformations (including an important refinement) together with diffeomorphisms. Time permitting, I will mention some possible applications of our results.
