Seminars:


SPRING 2001


DATE

SEMINAR

TIME

ROOM

SPEAKER

TITLE

Wed Jan 31

Topology / Geometry

2:10-3:00

RH 211

Kevin Scannell

Bianchi Groups

Fri Feb 2

Topology/ Analysis

10:00-10:50

RH 320

Kevin Scannell

Topological Groups acting on Hyperbolic Space

Abstract: We will continue our study of topological groups as they act on hyperbolic groups. The text we are using is by Elstrodt, Grunewald and Mennicke and is published by Springer Verlag.

Tues. Feb 6

Algebra

1:10-2:00

RH 134

Julianne Rainbolt

Images and extensions of periodic linear groups

Wed. Feb 7

Topology / Geometry

2:10-3:00

RH 211

Anneke Bart

Reflective Subgroups of Bianchi Groups

Fri Feb 9

Topology/ Analysis

10:00-10:50

RH 320

Kevin Scannell

Topological Groups acting on Hyperbolic Space

Tues Feb 13

Algebra

1:10-2:00

RH 134

Julianne Rainbolt

Images and extensions of periodic linear groups

Wed Feb 14

Topology / Geometry

2:10-3:00

RH 211

Anneke Bart

Reflective Subgroups of Bianchi Groups

Fri Feb 16

Topology/ Analysis

2:10-3:00

RH 218

Kevin Scannell

Topological Groups acting on Hyperbolic Space

Tue Feb 20

Math Club

3:00-4:00

RH 223

Kevin Scannell

The Topology of the Universe

Fri Feb 23

Topology/ Analysis

2:10-3:00

RH 218

Kevin Scannell

Topological Groups acting on Hyperbolic Space

Tues Feb 27

Algebra

2:00-3:00

RH 134

Greg Marks

Distributive Lattices within Groups, Rings, and Modules

Wed Feb 28

Topology / Geometry

2:10-3:00

RH 211

Ray Freese

"The Geometry of Metric Spaces"

Mon Mar 5

Topology/ Analysis

11:00-12:00

RH 218

Kevin Scannell

Topological Groups acting on Hyperbolic Space

Wed Mar 7

Topology / Geometry

2:10-3:00

RH 211

Ray Freese

"The Geometry of Metric Spaces"

Thur. Mar 8

Algebra Colloquium

3:00-4:00

RH 128

Dr. Robert F. Morse
University of Evansville, Indiana
Host: Russel Blyth

Computing the non-abelian tensor product of groups.

Refreshments: at 2:30 pm before the Colloquium.

Abstract: The non-abelian tensor product of two groups was introduced by Brown and Loday (1987) following ideas of Dennis (1976) and Lue (1976). It is of topological significance. The study of this group construction >from a group theoretical perspective started with Brown, Johnson and Robertson (1987) who computed some non-abelian tensor product for groups of order up to 30. By computing the non-abelian tensor product, we mean finding a presentation for the group which is recognizable or standard. In this talk, we will examine 3 methods for computing the non-abelian tensor product: using Tietze transformations, using an embedding theorem of Ellis and Leonard (1995), and cross pairings.

Fri Mar 9

Algebra

3:10-4:00

RH 134

Dr. Robert F. Morse
University of Evansville, Indiana
Host: Russel Blyth

Computing the non-abelian tensor product of finitely presented groups.

Abstract: There are copies of the abstract in pdf and postscript (you need Adobe Acrobat to read pdf files)

Tue Mar 20

Algebra

2:00-3:00

RH 134

Greg Marks

Distributive Lattices within Groups, Rings, and Modules

Wed Mar 21

Topology / Geometry

2:10-3:00

RH 211

Jim Hebda

Framing of knots Satisfying Differential Equations

Mon Mar 26

Seminar

4:00-5:30

RH 200

Dr. Dimitri Bayuk
Host: Charles Ford

Dante's Journey and the Cosmology of a Christian

Tue Mar 27

Algebra

1:30-2:30

RH 134

Greg Marks

Distributive Lattices within Groups, Rings, and Modules

Tue Mar 27

Colloquium

3:00-4:30

RH 223

Dr. Dimitri Bayuk
Host: Charles Ford

Dante's Journey and the Cosmology of a Christian

The seminar and the colloquium will cover the same topic. The seminar (Monday) is aimed at a public with a slightly more technical background. The colloquium (Tuesday) is aimed at the general public.
Refreshments on Tuesday at 2:30, before the Colloquium

Abstract: Pavel Alexandrovich Florensky (1882-1937) was an orthodox priest and one of the most influential religious philosophers of early 20th century Russia. His theological views were greatly influenced by his professional knowledge of contemporary mathematics and physics. In his 1922 book Imaginary Values in Geometry, he developed a geometrical interpretation of spaces with complex coordinates and applied Einstein's theory of general relativity to interpret the universe described by Dante in the Divine Comedy. His analysis led him to the conclusion that the principle of relativity is compatible with Aristotelian physics and a geocentric model of the universe, which he considered preferable to the heliocentric Copernican universe. He used his cosmology as an illustration of his Platonic Christian views. This theory, and particularly his defense of geocentrism, were attacked in the Soviet press in the 1930s as religious hostility towards science and a form of class struggle against the socialist regime. In 1933 he was arrested and, after four years in labor camps, was executed. This twentieth-century recapitulation of the conflict between Galilean science and Christian world view sheds new light of the complex relationship between science, ideology, and religion.

Wed Mar 28

Topology/ Geometry

2:10-3:00

RH 211

Jim Hebda

Framing of knots Satisfying Differential Equations

Thu Mar 29

Analysis

4:15-5:15

TBA

Dr. Jean Ludwig ,
Universite de Metz, France
Host: Brad Currey

"Strength of Convergence in Duals of C*-Algebras and Nilpotent Lie Groups"

Tue Apr 3

Algebra

2:00-3:00

RH 134

Greg Marks

Distributive Lattices within Groups, Rings, and Modules

Wed Apr 4

Topology/ Geometry

2:10-3:00

RH 211

Jim Hebda

Framing of knots Satisfying Differential Equations

Tue Apr 10

Algebra

2:00-3:00

RH 134

Greg Marks

Distributive Lattices within Groups, Rings, and Modules

Wed Apr 11

Topology/ Geometry

2:10-3:00

RH 211

John Kalliongis

Isometries of Lensspaces

Thu Apr 12

Seminar

4:00-5:00

RH 223

Dr. Wai Shing Tang,
National University of Singapore (visiting Vanderbilt University)
Host: Michael Tsau

A Hilbertspace approach to Wavelets.

Refreshments at 3:30 (before the Seminar)

Abstract: We shall first review the concept of multi-resolution of L2(R) as introduced by Meyer and Mallat in the mid 1980's, and show how an orthonormal wavelet can be obtained from a multi-resolution. Next we shall describe a connection between the existence of wavelets and Robertson's result on wandering subspaces for unitary operators on Hilbert spaces. We shall also give a brief summary of some recent work of the speaker and his collaborators on the approach of wavelets in Hilbert spaces.

Wed Apr 17

Algebra

2:00-3:00

RH 134

Greg Marks

Distributive Lattices within Groups, Rings, and Modules

Wed Apr 18

Topology/ Geometry

2:10-3:00

RH 211

John Kalliongis

Isometries of Lensspaces

Wed Apr 24

Algebra

2:00-3:00

RH 134

Greg Marks

Distributive Lattices within Groups, Rings, and Modules

Wed Apr 25

Topology/ Geometry

2:10-3:00

RH 211

John Kalliongis

Isometries of Lensspaces

Wed Apr 25

Colloquium

3:00-4:00

RH 142

Dr. Marcin Bownik
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Host: Darrin Speegle

Constructing Higher Dimensional Wavelets

Refreshments at 2:30 (before the Colloquium)

Abstract: The aim of this talk is to discuss multi-variable generalizations of one-dimensional wavelets, and to show that this subject leads to many interesting problems in algebraic number theory, topology and geometry. Since most of these problems require the use of non-analytical methods, this area may be appealing to a broader range of mathematicians, We start by describing how the question of the existence of the multi-variable Haar type wavelet, which is the simplest possible example of a compactly supported wavelet, leads to questions about the class numbers of certain extensions of the field of rational numbers. Next we consider the question of construction of smooth wavelet bases out of a higher dimensional multi-resolution analysis. This problem leads in turn to some topological questions about the existence of everywhere continuous tangent vector fields. Finally, the problem of the existence of Meyer type wavelets, leads to certain geometrical questions involving the action of expansive dilations in higher dimensional Euclidian spaces.

Thur Apr 26

Analysis

4:00-5:00

RH 142

Dr. Marcin Bownik
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Host: Darrin Speegle

Wavelets with Irrational Dilation Factors

Abstract: We address a question posed by Daubechies about the existence of orthonormal wavelet bases with good time frequency localization associated with irrational dilation factors.Chui and Shi have recently shown that the answer is negative for almost all irrational dilation factors. We extend their result by showing that there are no orthonormal wavelet bases with good time-frequency localization associated with any irrational dilation factor. We also discuss higher dimensional, biorthogonal multi-wavelet situation.

Mon April 30

Colloquium

3:00-4:00

RH 320

Dr. Michael Starbird University of Texas, Austin
Host: Darrin Speegle

The Fourth Dimension

Refreshments at 2:30 (before the Seminar)

Abstract: The fourth dimension sounds eerie, mysterious, and exciting; and it is. Untying knots, stealing gold bricks from closed iron safes, and unfolding hypercubes are all part of the journey. We are transported to this intriguing domain by a powerful method of creating ideas, namely, thinking insightfully about the world that we know well. A deep understanding of the simple and familiar is the key to exploring the complex and mysterious, and the fourth dimension illustrates that principal magnificently.

Tue May 1

Algebra

2:00-3:00

RH 134

Kevin Scannell

Reflection groups and the Monster

Wed. May 2

Topology/ Geometry

2:10-3:00

RH 211

Steve Harris

TBA

Fri May 4

Topology/ Geometry

TBA

TBA

Dr. William Goldman University of Maryland, College Park
Host: Kevin Scannell

Flat Lorentz 3-Manifolds and Hyperbolic Geometry