UBC Math Department Colloquium: Liam Watson

  • Date: 10/25/2019
  • Time: 15:00
Lecturer(s):
Liam Watson, UBC
Location: 

University of British Columbia

Topic: 

A brief and idiosyncratic history of knot mutation

Description: 

Mutation is a process that makes a non-trivial local change to a knot; the distinction between the resulting pair of knots is difficult to detect. I will present a vaguely historical account of why mutant pairs are difficult to distinguish. This will focus on symmetries of certain relative invariants associated with Khovanov homology: I will explain why Khovanov homology cannot detect mutation, but that in certain instances, the presence of an appropriate involution gives way to a new refinement of Khovanov homology that is able to separate mutant pairs.

Other Information: 

Location: ESB 1012

Light refreshments will be served at 2:30 p.m. in ESB 4133 (PIMS Lounge)