Joint Algebra & Geometry/Geometry & Topology Seminar

Foams are two-dimensional complexes with generic singularities, usually embedded in 3-space. The talk will revolve around the formula by Robert and Wagner assigning a symmetric polynomial to a foam via suitable colorings of facets of the foam by a finite set of colors. Euler characteristics of subsurfaces of the foam associated to colorings appear prominently in the formula. We'll explain an application of this construction and its conjectural relation to Kronheimer-Mrow​ka homology theories that come from a gauge theory for orbifolds.