Topology Seminar: Craig Westerland
- Date: 10/04/2017
- Time: 15:15
University of British Columbia
Homology of braid groups via quantum shuffle algebras
I will explain some new techniques for computing the homology of braid groups with coefficients in a certain class of exponential representations that arise in a natural way from braided monoidal categories. Surprisingly (at least to me), these techniques are related to fundamental objects — Nichols algebras — in the theory of quantum groups and the classification theory of Hopf algebras. These techniques can be used to establish part of a function field analogue of Malle’s conjecture on the distribution of Galois groups. I will not discuss this application much in the topology seminar, but will focus on it in the colloquium. This is joint work with Jordan Ellenberg and TriThang Tran.
ESB 4133 (PIMS Lounge)