SMRI ’What is ...?’: Hekmati -- What is a cohomological field theory?

SMRI ’What is ..?’: ’...  a cohomological field theory?’ Pedram Hekmati (University of
Auckland) 

Tuesday, 26th April, 3:00pm - 4:00pm (AEST) Quad S224 & Online via Zoom 

Register for online attendance here:
https://uni-sydney.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwtduyrrDMtEtxYbtUHRUsquAFH4oZ7bLnQ 

Abstract: Many interesting invariants in geometry satisfy certain glueing or
factorisation conditions, that are often useful when doing calculations.  Topological
quantum field theories (TQFTs) emerged in the 1980s as an organising structure for
invariants that are governed by bordisms.  In 2 dimensions, bordisms are surfaces with
boundaries and the TQFT has a simple algebraic description.  By remembering the
diffeomorphisms of the surfaces, one is lead to the notion of a cohomological field
theory.  

This talk will give an overview of these ideas and be aimed at a broad audience.  

Biography: Pedram Hekmati is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mathematics of the
University of Auckland.  He obtained his Ph.D.  in 2010 from the Royal Institute of
Technology and prior to moving to Auckland, he held a DECRA fellowship at the University
of Adelade and a Postdoctorate of Excellence at IMPA, Rio de Janeiro.  His research lies
at the intersection of differential geometry, algebraic topology and mathematical
physics; with a particular focus on invariants associated to moduli spaces and character
varieties.