Federico Salmoiraghi (Queen's University)

Dynamics, Geometry and Groups Seminar

Friday, October 7th, 2022

Time: 10:00 a.m.  Place: Jeffery Hall, Room 422

Speaker: Federico Salmoiraghi (Queen's University)

Title: Using contact geometry to study 3-dimensional Anosov flows

Abstract: Anosov flows are an important class of dynamical systems due to their ergodic properties and structural stability. Geometrically they are defined by two transverse invariant foliations with expanding and contracting behaviors. Much of our understanding of the structure of an Anosov flow relies on the study of the leaves space of the invariant foliations. In this talk we adopt a different approach: in the early 90s Mitsumatsu first noticed that an Anosov vector field also belongs to the intersection of two transverse contact structures rotating towards each other. After giving the necessary background, I will show how to use this point of view to address questions in the theory of surgery on Anosov flows.