Skip to content

### Seminars and Colloquiums for the week of April 10, 2017

SPEAKER:

Boris Goldfarb (SUNY-Albany), Monday
John Nolan, American University, Tuesday
Yunxiang Ren, Vanderbilt University, Wednesday
Daozhi Han, Indiana University, Wednesday
Stefan Schnake, UTK, Thursday

TEA TIME -
3:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday: Ayres 401
Hosted by: Mustafa Elmas & Mitchell Sutton

Monday, April 10th

TOPOLOGY/GEOMETRY SEMINAR
Title: The topological rigidity conjecture through controlled $G$-theory
Speaker: Boris Goldfarb (SUNY Albany)
Time: 2:30pm - 3:20pm
Room: 113 Ayres
Abstract: I will describe the joint work with Gunnar Carlsson on the old conjecture of Armand Borel in topology. The conjecture states that if a closed aspherical manifold $M$ is homotopy equivalent to another manifold then the two manifolds have to be homeomorphic. The aspherical condition is equivalent to the universal cover of $M$ being contractible, which is common in geometry. I will explain how this geometric statement is translated to algebra in the modern approach to Borel. We study the $K$-theoretic assembly map associated to $\pi_1 (M)$ by factoring it through a controlled version of Grothendieck's $G$-theory of the group ring $\mathbb{Z} \pi_1 (M)$. The $G$-theory turns out to be easier to compute and is equivalent to $K$-theory in very general geometric situations, for example when $\pi_1 (M)$ has finite decomposition complexity. If there is time, I will compare this method to the Farrell-Jones conjectures. Several crucial features of the method belong to “coarse geometry” that is very popular in Knoxville.

Tuesday, April 11th

STOCHASTICS/ PROBABILITY SEMINAR
Title: Dense classes of multivariate extreme value distributions
Speaker: John Nolan, American University
Time: 2:10pm-3:25pm
Room: 113 Ayres
Abstract: We explore tail dependence modeling in multivariate extreme value distributions through the use of the scale function. This allows combinations of distributions in a flexible way. The correspondences between the scale function and the spectral measure or the stable tail dependence function are given. Combining scale functions by simple operations, semi-parametric classes of laws are described and analyzed, and resulting nested and structured models are discussed. Finally, the denseness of each of these classes is shown.
Comparisons to multivariate stable laws are discussed. We end with a discussion of current work for computing and fitting multivariate extreme value laws with semi-parametric models via max projections.
This is joint work with Anne-Laure Fougeres and Cecile Mercadier at the University of Lyon.

Wednesday, April 12th

ANALYSIS SEMINAR
Title: Classification of Thurston-relation planar algebra
Speaker: Yunxiang Ren, Vanderbilt University
Time: 2:30pm-3:20pm
Room: 113 Ayres
Abstract: Planar algebras were introduced by Jones as a topological axiomatization of the standard invariants of subfactors. With this perspective, it is natural to understand subfactors through their skein theory, i.e, generators and relations (both algebraic and topological). In this talk, we will discuss the subfactor planar algebra generated by a 3-box with Thurston relation as a continuation of the classification program by skein theory proposed by Bisch and Jones. We give a full classification of such subfactors and explore these subfactors from their skein theory.

COMPUTATIONAL and APPLIED MATHEMATICS (CAM) SEMINAR
Title: Modeling and numerical simulations of two-phase flow in karstic geometry.
Speaker: Daozhi Han, Indiana University
Time: 3:35pm – 4:35pm
Room: 113 Ayres
Abstract: Multiphase flow phenomena are ubiquitous. In some applications such as flows in unconfined karst aquifers, karst oil reservoir, proton membrane exchange fuel cell, multiphase flows in conduits, and in porous media must be considered together. Geometric configurations that contain both conduit and porous media are termed karstic geometry. In this talk, we derive a diffuse interface model for two-phase flow in karstic geometry utilizing Onsager's extremum principle. The model together with the interface boundary conditions satisfies a physically important energy law. We show that the model admits a global finite-energy weak solution which agrees with the regular solution provided the regular solution exists. Then we present a decoupled unconditionally energy-stable numerical scheme for solving this diffuse interface model. Finally we will discuss the design of second order accurate unconditionally stable schemes for solving diffuse interface models.

Thursday, April 13th

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS SEMINARS
Title: A Vanishing Moment Method for Second-order Linear Elliptic PDEs in Non-divergence Form.
Speaker: Stefan Schnake, UTK
Time: 2:00pm-3:00pm
Room: 113 Ayres

Abstract: This talk will focus on the vanishing moment method for second order, linear, elliptic PDEs in non-divergence form whose coefficients are only continuous. These PDEs present themselves in the nonlinear Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equations, which have applications in stochastic optimal control and mathematical finance, as well as the linearization of the Mange-Amprere equations. The vanishing moment method seeks to approximate the second order PDE by a family of fourth order PDEs created by the addition of a small biharmonic term. Uniform H1 and H2 estimates will be given implying the convergence of the method. In addition, error estimates in the L2 and H1 norms will be shown.

#### If you are interested in giving or arranging a talk for one of our seminars or colloquiums, please review our calendar.

If you have questions, or a date you would like to confirm, please contact colloquium AT math DOT utk DOT edu

Past notices:

4_3_17.html

3_27_17.html

3_20_17.html

3/13/17 - Spring Break

3_6_17.html

2_27_17.html

2_20_17.html

2_13_17.html

2_6_17.html

1_30_17.html

1_23_17.html

1_16_17.html

Winter Break

11_28_16.html

11_21_16.html

11_14_16.html

11_7_16.html

10_31_16.html

10_24_16.html

10_17_16.html

10_10_16.html

10_3_16.html

9_26_16.html

9_19_16.html

9_12_15.html

spring_16.html

fall_15.html

###### last updated: May 2018

Department of Mathematics
College of Arts & Sciences

227 Ayres Hall. 1403 Circle Drive. Knoxville TN 37996-1320
Phone: 865-974-2461 Fax: 865-974-6576 Email: math_info@utk.edu

The flagship campus of the University of Tennessee System and partner in the Tennessee Transfer Pathway.