Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences - PIMS

The geometry of rigid and non-rigid structures

Convex triangulated surfaces in three-space are rigid by Cauchy's Theorem. But what about non-convex surfaces? Some interesting recent examples of classes of non-convex surfaces have some convex-like properties, and yet are still rigid. On the oth   more››

Scientific Event

Total Positivity and its Applications

A matrix is called totally positive (resp. totally nonnegative)if all of its minors are positive (resp. nonnegative). This important class of matrices grew out of three separate applications: Vibrating systems, interpolation, and statistics. Since   more››

Scientific Event

Scaling, universality and spatio-temporal clustering in seismicity and rock fracture phenomena

In this talk, Dr. Davidsen will give an overview of new methods from nonlinear sciences and complex network theory to characterize temporal and spatio-temporal clustering of point processes with a particular focus on their application to seismicity a   more››

Industrial Event

Intuitive Geometry Day

The Intuitive Geometry Day in Calgary is a one-day meeting immediately following and extending the Intuitive Geometry Workhsop (August 31-September 2, 2007) held at the Banff International Research Station. The Intuitive Geometry Day is entir   more››

Scientific Event

16th Discrete Simulation of Fluid Dynamics: Micro, Nano and Multiscale Physics for Emerging Technologies

http://nanotech.ucalgary.ca/dsfd2007/   more››

Scientific Event

Western Canadian Conference for Young Researchers in Mathematics

Dear Graduate Students, Welcome to our conference website! This conference provides graduate students with a forum to discuss their research. With funds from PIMS and the University of Calgary, we can provide you with accommodat   more››

Scientific Event

Gauss Sums: Finding the Root of Unity

A Gauss sum over a finite field GF(q) is a sum of q algebraic numbers. It is often useful to evaluate Gauss sums explicitly, for instance, in coding theoretic or cryptographic applications. For small q, the evaluation of Gauss sums can be done nai   more››

Scientific Event

Values and Ideals in Combinatorial Problems

The absolute value of complex numbers is surprisingly useful in the investigation of certain combinatorial problems. The connection often arises from imbedding finite cyclic groups into the complex numbers by sending the group elements to roots of   more››

Scientific Event

Amoebas, Coamoebas, and Tropical Geometry

Given a triangle with side lengths 1, log x, log y and opposite interior angles π-u-v, u, v, the functional determinant ∂(x,y)/∂(u,v) is identically equal to 1. This amusing fact is a special ins   more››

Scientific Event

Time-Frequency Analysis: From Wireless Communications to Abstract Harmonic Analysis

In the talk I will discuss the relation between problems in wireless communications and time-frequency analysis. I will explain the basic principle of OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing) and its formulation in time-frequency analysis   more››

Scientific Event

Potential energy minimization

Energy minimization can be thought of as a broad generalization of sphere packing. Yudin discovered that harmonic analysis can be applied to prove lower bounds for potential energy. This talk will explain these bounds and show how to use them to p   more››

Scientific Event

Optimality of the Leech lattice

This talk will outline the proof that the Leech lattice is the unique densest lattice in R24. The proof combines linear programming bounds with special algebraic and geometric arguments. This is joint work with Abhinav Kumar.   more››

Scientific Event

Sphere packing and harmonic analysis

Harmonic analysis is one of the fundamental tools in sphere packing, in the form of "linear programming bounds". This talk will give a survey of linear programming bounds and their applications, as well as a brief introduction to semidef   more››

Scientific Event

Random 0/1 polytopes

The abstract for Dr. Giannopoulos's talk can be downloaded at http://pims.math.ca/science/2006/06giannopoulos/Giannopoulos_02_abstract.pdf.   more››

Scientific Event

Distribution of volume on isotropic convex bodies

The abstract for Dr. Giannopoulos's talk can be downloaded at http://pims.math.ca/science/2006/06giannopoulos/Giannopoulos_01_abstract.pdf.   more››

Scientific Event

Formal proofs in geometry

Traditional mathematical proofs are written in a way to make them easily understood by mathematicians. Routine logical steps are omitted. An enormous amount of context is assumed on the part of the reader. Proofs, especially in topology and geomet   more››

Scientific Event

Computer-assisted proofs in geometry

In recent years, computer-assisted proofs have become relatively common. For example, in 2002, W. Tucker published a proof of problem 14 (concerning strange attractors) on Smale's list of problems for the new century. Other recent computer-assiste   more››

Scientific Event

Sphere Packings and foams

Kepler's conjecture asserts that the densest possible arrangement of congruent balls in three dimensions is the familiar pyramid arrangement, which is used to stack oranges at the fruit stand. A 300-page proof of this theorem finally appeared in J   more››

Scientific Event

The integral geometry of random sets

In various scientific fields from astro- and high energy physics to neuroimaging, researchers observe entire images or functions rather than single observations. The integral geometric properties, notably the Euler characteristic of the level/excu   more››

Scientific Event

Geophysical Inversion Workshop

The second PIMS GIW will be held on the University of Calgary Campus in August of 2006. Like the first event (2003), the purpose is to bring together ma   more››

Scientific Event