RIT on Geometry and Physics Archives for Fall 2015 to Spring 2016


Organizational Meeting

When: Thu, September 4, 2014 - 3:30pm
Where: PHY 1117


Introduction to supersymmetry and integration in superspace

When: Thu, September 11, 2014 - 3:30pm
Where: PHY 1117
Speaker: Jim Gates and/or William Linch, Physics
Abstract: We begin describing the basic setup of supersymmetry and introduce the problem of integration of superfields.

Introduction to supersymmetry and integration in superspace

When: Thu, September 11, 2014 - 3:30pm
Where: PHY 1117
Speaker: Jim Gates and/or William Linch, Physics
Abstract: We begin describing the basic setup of supersymmetry and introduce the problem of integration of superfields.

Introduction to supersymmetry and integration in superspace

When: Thu, September 18, 2014 - 3:30pm
Where: PHY 1117
Speaker: Jim Gates and/or William Linch, Physics
Abstract: We begin describing the basic setup of supersymmetry and introduce the problem of integration of superfields.

no meeting (Rosh Hashanah)

When: Thu, September 25, 2014 - 3:30pm
Where:


Introduction to supersymmetry and integration in superspace (cont'd)

When: Thu, October 2, 2014 - 3:30pm
Where: PHY 1117
Speaker: Jim Gates and/or William Linch, Physics
Abstract: We begin describing the basic setup of supersymmetry and introduce the problem of integration of superfields.

no meeting this week

When: Thu, October 9, 2014 - 3:30pm
Where:


no meeting this week

When: Thu, October 16, 2014 - 3:30pm
Where:


De Rham and Chevalley-Eilenberg cohomology, part 1

When: Thu, October 23, 2014 - 3:30pm
Where:
Speaker: Paul Green (UMd)
Abstract: We review the famous paper of Chevalley and Eilenberg on Lie algebra cohomology in Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 63 (1948), http://www.ams.org/journals/tran/1948-063-01/S0002-9947-1948-0024908-8/S0002-9947-1948-0024908-8.pdf
with a view toward understanding supersymmetric generalizations.

Super-Lie algebra cohomology and de Rham cohomology on supermanifolds

When: Thu, October 30, 2014 - 3:30pm
Where: PHY 1117
Speaker: Paul Green
Abstract: We will try to discuss how one could extend the work of Chavelley-Eilenberg to the case of supermanifolds.

The supersymmetric harmonic oscillator

When: Thu, November 6, 2014 - 3:30pm
Where: Physics 1117
Speaker: Jim Gates (UMd) - http://umdphysics.umd.edu/about-us/people/faculty/135-gates.html
Abstract: We will discuss the supersymmetric harmonic oscillator in detail, in an attempt to arrive at a mathematical theory of supersymmetry that includes the most important physical examples.

Further discussion of foundations of supersymmetry

When: Thu, November 13, 2014 - 3:30pm
Where: PHY 1117


More on the supersymmetric oscillator and related examples

When: Thu, November 20, 2014 - 3:30pm
Where: Physics 1117
Speaker: Jonathan Rosenberg (UMd) - http://www2.math.umd.edu/~jmr/


More on supersymmetric sigma-models

When: Thu, December 4, 2014 - 3:30pm
Where: Physics 1117
Speaker: Jonathan Rosenberg (UMd) -


Organizational meeting for the spring semester

When: Thu, January 29, 2015 - 3:30pm
Where: PHY 1117
Speaker: () -


Lott's paper on torsion constraints, part 1

When: Thu, February 5, 2015 - 3:30pm
Where: PHY 1117
Speaker: Daniel Marino-Johnson
Abstract: We will begin studying Lott's paper "The Geometry of Supergravity Torsion Constraints", arXiv:math/0108125. For more details see Comm. Math. Phys. 133 (1990), 563-615, though the arxiv paper is shorter and easier to read.

Supergravity in 2+1 dimensions

When: Thu, February 12, 2015 - 3:30pm
Where: PHY 1117
Speaker: Jim Gates, UMD
Abstract: We'll explain the geometric setup (using supermanifolds) for 3D supergravity (in flat space).

Lott's paper on torsion constraints, part 2

When: Thu, February 19, 2015 - 3:30pm
Where: PHY 1117
Speaker: Matt Calkins
Abstract: Further discussion of Lott's paper "The Geometry of Supergravity Torsion Constraints", arXiv:math/0108125, focusing on specific examples: U(n) structures and supergravity in 3D.

Differential forms in superspace

When: Thu, February 26, 2015 - 3:30pm
Where: PHY 1117
Speaker: Stephen Randall
Abstract: I will talk on differential forms in superspace, as they come up in my undergraduate thesis, arxiv:1412.4448.

Bianchi identities and (super)Lie algebra cohomology

When: Thu, March 12, 2015 - 3:30pm
Where: PHY 1117
Speaker: Stephen Randall and William Linch
Abstract: We'll discuss how (super)Lie algebra cohomology makes it possible to organize all the Bianchi identities for superforms, which previously didn't appear to follow any particular pattern. Reference: arXiv:1412.4686. (postponed because of snow from 3/5)

Witten's paper on integration on supermanifolds, part 1

When: Thu, March 26, 2015 - 3:30pm
Where: PHY 1117
Speaker: Matt Calkins
Abstract: We will begin talking about E. Witten, "Notes On Supermanifolds and Integration", arxiv:1209.2199.

Witten's paper on integration on supermanifolds, part 2

When: Thu, April 2, 2015 - 3:30pm
Where: PHY 1117
Speaker: Matt Calkins
Abstract: We will begin talking about E. Witten, "Notes On Supermanifolds and Integration", arxiv:1209.2199.

Introduction to "ectoplasm"

When: Thu, April 9, 2015 - 3:30pm
Where: PHY 1117
Speaker: Jim Gates and William Linch
Abstract: We will begin talking about S. J. Gates, "Ectoplasm Has No Topology: The Prelude", arXiv:hep-th/9709104, and its connection with the Witten paper on integration.

Introduction to "ectoplasm" (cont'd)

When: Thu, April 16, 2015 - 3:30pm
Where: PHY 1117
Speaker: Jim Gates and William Linch
Abstract: We will begin talking about S. J. Gates, "Ectoplasm Has No Topology: The Prelude", arXiv:hep-th/9709104, and its connection with the Witten paper on integration.

Introduction to "ectoplasm" (cont'd)

When: Thu, April 23, 2015 - 3:30pm
Where: PHY 1117
Speaker: Jim Gates
Abstract: Further discussion of S. J. Gates, "Ectoplasm Has No Topology: The Prelude", arXiv:hep-th/9709104, and its connection with the Witten paper on integration.

No meeting this week

When: Thu, April 30, 2015 - 3:30pm
Where: PHY 1117


More on relative Lie algebra cohomology and superforms

When: Thu, May 7, 2015 - 3:30pm
Where: PHY 1117
Speaker: Daniel Marino-Johnson