Bhaumik Lecture Series
Department of Physics & Astronomy
Thursday, November 30, 2017 at 4:00 p.mUCLA/CNSI AUDITORIUM
Bhaumik Tea refreshments will start at 3:30 in CNSI Lobby
Mani L. Bhaumik Institute
for Theoretical Physics
Edward Witten
Integrability and Four-Dimensional Gauge Theory
Institute for Advanced SciencesPrinceton UniversityFields Medal Winner
Some years ago, Kevin Costello introduced a new approach to the Yang-Baxter equation and inte-grable systems based on an unusual gauge theory in four dimensions. The gauge theory in question is a close cousin of three-dimensional Chern-Simons theory, which almost thirty years ago was related to knot invariants and three-manifold invariants and has had a variety of physical appli-cations. The Yang-Baxter equation has a con-spicuous analogy with knot theory, but prior to Costello's work, it was unclear how the gauge theory/knot theory connection could be extended to the Yang-Baxter equation and integrability. The talk will be an introduction to Costello's approach, drawing also on recent work by Costello, Masahito Yamazaki, and the speaker. For background, one might consult arXiv:1611.00592.
Physics & Astronomy Colloquium
In conjunction with IPAM