Eigenvalues of random matrices and not the Riemann Hypothesis

  • Date: 02/28/2008
  • Time: 16:10
Lecturer(s):

Erick Wong (UBC)

Location: 

University of British Columbia

Topic: 

Random matrix theory has been a hot topic in number theory, particularly since the Rudnick and Sarnak landmark work on the spacing of consecutive zeros of L-functions. This highly accessible talk has a far more elementary flavour, focusing on eigenvalues of random integer matrices instead of the Gaussian Unitary Ensemble. For a fixed n, consider a random n×n integer matrix with entries bounded by the parameter k. I'll give a simple proof that such a matrix almost certainly has no rational eigenvalues (as k increases). Then we'll delve into more detail on the exact eigenvalue distribution of the 2×2 case. Along the way we'll rediscover a forgotten determinant identity and tackle some quadruple sums. This is joint work with Greg Martin.

Other Information: 

Number Theory Seminar

Sponsor:  pimssfu