Joel Kamnitzer (McGill)

Dynamics, Geometry and Groups Seminar
Friday, November 1st, 2024

Time: 2:30 p.m.  Place: Jeffery Hall, Room 234

Speaker: Joel Kamnitzer (McGill)

Title: Commutative subalgebras of universal enveloping algebras and moduli spaces of cactus flower curves

Abstract: A classic problem in representation theory is to decompose tensor product representations. I will explain how to do this using Gaudin algebras -- certain commutative subalgebras in tensor products of universal enveloping algebras. These commutative subalgebras are parametrized by the Deligne-Mumford space of genus 0 curves. I will explain how a modification of this construction leads to a new moduli space, called the moduli space of cactus flower curves, which is closely connected with matroid Schubert varieties.