PIMS-SFU Colloquium: Anthony Varilly-Alvarado

  • Date: 04/05/2016
  • Time: 01:30
Lecturer(s):
Anthony Varilly-Alvarado, Rice University
Location: 

Simon Fraser University

Topic: 

Diophantine equations, geometry, and Brauer groups

Description: 

The talk is aimed at a general academic mathematical audience, so should be suitable for graduate students, post-docs, and faculty.

 

The set of solutions to a diophantine equation is strongly influenced by the geometry of the associated algebraic variety. This paradigm, for example, suggests that an elementary proof of Fermat’s Last Theorem is unlikely to exist. I will describe what the paradigm suggests about diophantine equations whose geometric avatars are surfaces. In particular, I will introduce the Grothendieck-Brauer group of an algebraic variety and show how it explains the shape of the set of solutions to certain diophantine equations.

Other Information: 

Location: IRMACS Theatre

 

There will be a lunch from 1:00pm - 1:30pm in the Irmacs Foyer.