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Caltech

Geometry and Physics Seminar

Tuesday, October 11, 2016
2:00pm to 3:00pm
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Topological quantum field theory and geometric invariants
Yongbin Ruan, Professor, University of Michigan,

Abstract: During last thirty years, quantum field theory and string theory have revolutionized many area of mathematics. Among the intensive interaction between geometry and physics, a core area is Witten's topological quantum field theory (TQFT). It leads directly to the establishment of several key geometric invariants such as Seiberg-Witten invariants, Gromov-Witten invariants and more recently so called FJRW-invariant. TQFT itself was partially motivated by Donaldson
invariants. In the talk, I will survey the area as well as some new developments.