VIGRE@LSU: VIR Courses

• Instructor: Profs. Dasbach and Stoltzfus
• Prerequisites: Math 2057, Math 2085 (or Math 2090) or equivalent, or permission of instructors.

We will study the mathematical development of the geometry and manipulation of curves and surfaces in 3D with a blend of computer graphics. The course will develop the mathematical classification of surfaces by genus. As an application we will study embedded surfaces whose boundary is a given knotted circle. The computer representation of curves and surfaces in Mathematica (STL "Standard Tessellation Language" files) will be covered as well as options for scanning and printing of surfaces.

• Instructor: Profs. Dasbach and Stoltzfus, Dr. Kearney.
• Prerequisites: Topology I (MATH 7510) or equivalent, or permission of instructors.

The A-polynomial of a knot roughly measures the eigenvalues of those representations of the fundamental group of the torus tube about a knot which extend to the entire knot complement. We will study different known ways to effectively compute using the various presentations of fundamental groups of knot complements. We will also have a visiting expert in the field during the semester.

• Instructor: Profs. Sage and Achar.
• Prerequisites: Familiarity with basic group theory and linear algebra, such as from Math 4200 and Math 4153

Ordinary "algebra" is essentially a language for keeping track of compositions of functions.  (Operations like addition and multiplication are, after all, themselves functions, and a complicated expression involving many of those operations is really a composition.)   "Diagrammatic algebra" is a general term that refers to various ways of working with function-like objects that can compose not just sequentially, but in a 2-dimensional way.  Diagrammatic algebra has its origins in category theory and has connections to and applications in representation theory, topology, mathematical physics, and other areas. In this course, we will look at many concrete, down-to-earth examples, which will involve drawing lots of pictures. We will then concentrate on how diagrammatic algebra can be used in representation theory to study reflection groups and quantum groups.

• Instructor: Profs. Dasbach and Stoltzfus, Dr. Kearney.
• Prerequisites: Elementary Topology (MATH 4039) or equivalent, or permission of instructors.

One of the most studied knot invariants is the Alexander polynomial. There are many different ways known to effectively compute it. Some are combinatorial in nature, some are more closely related to the topology of the knot complement. We will discuss the Alexander polynomial as well as some of its relatives, such as knot signatures, the A-polynomial and Heegaard Floer knot homology.

• Instructor: Profs. Sage and Achar.
• Prerequisites: Familiarity with basic group theory, such as from Math 4200

Reflection groups are a remarkable class of groups that benefit from a richly interwoven tapestry of combinatorial, geometric, and group-theoretic properties. They are connected to mathematical discoveries ranging from the very ancient (e.g., the classification of platonic solids) to the very modern (e.g, the Kazhdan-Lusztig conjectures on Lie algebra representations). In this seminar, we will study selected topics related to reflection groups. No prior familiarity with reflection groups is required.

• Instructor: Prof. Lawson
• Prerequisites: A reasonably good background in linear algebra (e.g.Math 2085) should be considered minimal background for the course. Some very basic knowledge of quantum theory and elementary probability theory would also be helpful.
• Text: Quantum Computing, Nakahara and Ohmi, 2008, CRC Press
• Reference: Quantum Computing and Quantum Information, Nielsen and Chuang, 2000, Cambridge

This introductory course on the recently emerging topic of quantum computing and information theory will introduce students to major recent developments such as quantum encoding and cryptography, teleportation, error correction, and quantum computing. Basic concepts of quantum theory such as quantum states, qubits, entanglement, measurement, quantum gates etc. will be incorporated into the course. The mathematical content will center on a linear algebra approach to the subject through basic matrix theory (unitary and Hermitian matrices, positive and completely positive operators, Gram-Schmidt decomposition, etc.) together with some elementary probabilistic content.

• Instructor: Profs. Dasbach and Stoltzfus, Drs. Kearney and Tsvietkova.
• Prerequisites: Math 2057 (Calculus of Several Variables)

We will explore computational methods in knot theory, particularly of hyperbolic knots, using open source tools: SnapPea, Snap and Bar Natan's Mathematica package KnotTheory.

We particularly welcome undergraduate participants for this VIR course as we will be developing geometric concepts of three-dimensional hyperbolic geometry related to the visualization and design of solid geometric objects which can now be printed on 3D printers.

• Instructor: Profs. Yakimov and Muller

Quivers are simple diagrams which can encode linear algebraic data; specifically, vector spaces and linear maps between them. In this informal seminar aimed at advanced undergraduates, we will study quivers, and how to build moduli spaces which parametrize all possible choices of data. This seminar will expose students to a casual research atmosphere and teach them concepts on the cutting edge of modern mathematics. Out-of-class obligations will be minimal.

• Instructor: Profs. Yakimov and Muller
• Total Enrolled - 7

In recent years representation theory of algebras has played a key role in many developments in cluster algebras, mathematical physics, and noncommutative geometry. The goal of this seminar-type course is to learn the fundamental constructions in this field and then study applications in the above mentioned areas.

The course will naturally be split into two parts, "building fundamentals" and "investigating applications". Students will have the opportunity to give lectures in both parts of the course. The first part will cover the general representation theoretic and homological background, in particular quivers with relations and the Auslander-Reiten quivers of Artin algebras. The second part of the course will cover applications to categorification of cluster algebras, Jacobian algebras, and noncommutative projective geometry.

• Instructor: Profs Sage and Achar.
• Prerequisites: Familiarity with basic group theory, such as from Math 4200
• Total Enrolled - 13

Reflection groups are a remarkable class of groups that benefit from a richly interwoven tapestry of combinatorial, geometric, and group-theoretic properties. They are connected to mathematical discoveries ranging from the very ancient (e.g., the classification of platonic solids) to the very modern (e.g, the Kazhdan-Lusztig conjectures on Lie algebra representations). In this seminar, we will study selected topics related to reflection groups. No prior familiarity with reflection groups is required.

• Instructor: Profs. Rubin and Olafsson.
• Prerequisites: 2057 Multidimensional Calculus (2057, 4035 or equivalent).
• Text: V.S. Vladimirov, Methods of the Theory of Generalized Functions, Taylor & Francis, 2002. Some other texts will be also used.
• Total Enrolled - 11

This course is intended to provide opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to work in a research community, learn and create new mathematics. Possible formats include group reading and exposition, research projects, written and oral presentations. The subject of the course is introduction to the theory of distributions (or the generalized functions). This theory, created by S.L. Sobolev and L. Schwartz, is fundamental in the background of every educated mathematician. It enables one to differentiate non-differentiable functions, evaluate divergent integrals, solve differential equations of mathematical physics, and do many other useful things in analysis and applications.

• Instructor: Profs. Dasbach and Stoltzfus, Drs. Kearney and Tsvietkova.
• Prerequisites: Math 2057 (Calculus of Several Variables)
• Total Enrolled - 16

We will explore computational methods in knot theory, particularly of hyperbolic knots, using open source tools: SnapPea, Snap and Bar Natan's Mathematica package KnotTheory.

We particularly welcome undergraduate participants for this VIR course as we will be developing geometric concepts of three-dimensional hyperbolic geometry related to the visualization and design of solid geometric objects which can now be printed on 3D printers.

• Instructor: Prof. Shipman.
• Prerequisites: For undergraduate students: 1-dimensional differential and integral calculus. For graduate students: A complex variables course and graduate real analysis (Math 7311).
• Text: Notes by Maciej Zworski: Lectures on Scattering Resonances.

The phenomenon of resonance is familiar in popular and scientific tradition and commonly lies behind acoustic, electromagnetic, and mechanical processes and devices. We witness it in events such as the collapse of the Tacoma Narrows bridge, the shattering of a glass by acoustic resonance, anomalous absorption by the noble gases at specific energies, and super-sensitive frequency-dependence of light reflection from periodic surfaces. The topic of this course will be a mathematical theory that applies to a great variety of problems of resonance in wave scattering by objects in quantum and classical wave mechanics.

The primary literature reference will be the lecture notes on scattering resonances by Maciej Zworski. The classes will be run like a seminar, in which students and faculty will take turns presenting portions of the notes, related examples, and supporting material.

The mathematical theory of resonance involves sophisticated methods of complex variables and operator theory of differential equations. Even so, there is a rich array of simple and interesting models whose analysis is accessible to undergraduate students. The role of graduate students and faculty will be to learn and present the notes and supporting material. Undergraduate students will gain exposure to advanced mathematical techniques but will not be expected to grasp all the mathematics in the notes or lectures. Their role will be to work out and present models that illuminate specific resonant scattering phenomena.

• Instructor: Dr. Harris and Profs. He and Olafsson
• Prerequisites:
• Text: Chapter V in Unitary Representations and Harmonic Analysis - An Introduction, M. Sugiura and An Introduction to Harmonic Analysis on Semisimple Lie groups by V. S. Varadarajan

Representations of semisimple Lie groups play a central role in several parts of mathematics and physics, including number theory, geometry, and quantum physics. In this course we will discuss several aspects of this broad theory but concentrate on the simples example SL(2,R). In this course our main goal is to prove the Plancherel theorem for SL(2,R). We will cover the theory of invariant eigendistributions as well as some results on orbital integrals.

• Instructor: Dr. Bremer, Prof. Achar and Prof. Sage
• Prerequisites: 4200 and 2085, or permission of the instructor.

We will study topics related to a major and very recent advance, the proof of the so-called Fundamental Lemma in the Langlands program, for which Ngo Bau Chao received the Fields Medal in 2010. Specifically, we will study the approach via affine Springer fibers developed in the work of Goresky-Kottwitz-MacPherson. Affine Springer fibers are geometric objects that can often be described very concretely--for instance, in one class of important examples, an affine Springer fiber is just a collection of 2-spheres touching at points. These spaces can be studied in a very combinatorial way that lends itself to hands-on computations. No prior knowledge is presumed beyond basic familiarity with abstract and linear algebra. Attendance in this seminar in Fall 2011 is not required.

• Instructor: Dr. Muller, Prof. Yakimov and Prof. Dan Cohen

Cluster Algebras are a new and exciting intersection between a wide array of mathematical fields. They were defined by Sergey Fomin and Andrei Zelevinsky in 2001 in relation to problems in combinatorics and Lie groups. Only a few years later they started playing a key role in a number of developments in representation theory, topology, combinatorics and algebraic geometry.

The beauty of the subject is that the fundamentals require almost no prerequisites. We will begin with an introduction presented by students familiar with the topic, and there will be a heavy emphasis on examples and simplicity throughout. Thus new undergraduate students who register will be able to understand and lecture on a number of topics. Graduate students specializing in representation theory, topology, combinatorics and algebraic geometry will see relations and applications of cluster algebras.

This semester of this course will begin to develop the categorical and homological aspects of category theory, as we see how elementary manipulations of diagrams lead to operations on certain categories. Concrete, computable examples will be emphasized throughout. The class will also transition from exposition of known material to research-oriented learning and exploration. Students will not be required to present or do homework, but participation is strongly encouraged to help follow the material.

• Instructor: Prof. Dasbach, Prof. Stoltzfus, and Dr. Kearney
• Prerequisites: Math 7510: Topology I
• Text: Research Literature

We will study knot invariants arising from Lie algebras including the proof of the MMR conjecture stated by Melvin and Morton (and elucidated further by Rozansky) saying that the Alexander-Conway polynomial of a knot can be read from some of the coefficients of the Jones polynomials of cables of that knot (i.e., coefficients of the "colored" Jones polynomial). encapsulated in the paper of Dror Bar-Natan and Stavros Garoufalidis

In addition, we will read the paper of Saleur & Kauffman relating the Lie algebra GL(1|1) to the Alexander Polynomial and other approaches to the MMR conjecture by XS Lin and A. Vaintrob.

• Instructor: Dr. Barker, Prof. Brenner and Dr. Park
• Prerequisites: Permission of Instructor
• Text: None required

Domain decomposition methods are numerical methods for partial differential equations that provide a natural approach to solving large scale problems on parallel computers. We will survey the field and discuss new developments. Implementation issues will also be addressed.

• Instructor: Dr. Welters, Prof. Lipton and Prof. Shipman
• Audience: Graduate and undergraduate students; those interested in partial differential equations, spectral theory, and applications.

This course centers upon the partial differential equations of electrodynamics in periodic media. The spectral theory for fields in periodic structures is called Floquet theory. It is associated with the Floquet transform, which is the Fourier transform of the integer lattice subgroup of Euclidean space. Even the one-dimensional case is mathematically interesting, being naturally connected to differential-algebraic equations and the spectral theory thereof. An intriguing application is to "slow light", whose analysis requires the analytic perturbation theory of non-selfadjoint operators and in particular the perturbation of matrices with nontrivial Jordan blocks.

The course will be in the style of an interactive seminar, in which undergraduate and graduate students and faculty will present related topics or problems. Participants will learn about directions and open problems in current mathematical research.

• Instructor: Profs Sage and Achar.
• Prerequisites: Math 4200 and 2085, or permission of the instructor.

We will study topics related to a major and very recent advance, the proof of the so-called "Fundamental Lemma" in the Langlands program, for which Ngo Bau Chao received the Fields Medal in 2010. Specifically, we will study the approach via "affine Springer fibers" developed in the work of Goresky-Kottwitz-MacPherson. Affine Springer fibers are geometric objects that can often be described very concretely–for instance, in one class of important examples, an affine Springer fiber is just a collection of 2-spheres touching at points. These spaces can be studied in a very combinatorial way that lends itself to hands-on computations. No prior knowledge is presumed beyond basic familiarity with abstract and linear algebra.

• Instructor: Prof. Yakimov and Dr. Muller.
• Prerequisites: Permission of Instructor.

Cluster Algebras is a topic of great interest in current mathematics. They were defined by Sergey Fomin and Andrei Zelevinsky in 2001 in relation to problems in combinatorics and Lie groups. Only a few years later they started playing a key role in a number of developments in representation theory, topology, combinatorics and algebraic geometry. The beauty of the subject is that a great deal of it requires almost no prerequisites. Thus undergraduate students who register will be able to understand and lecture on a number of topics. One of the main goals of the course is to go over applications and relations to various areas of mathematics. Graduate students specializing in representation theory, topology, combinatorics and algebraic geometry will see relations to each of these areas and will be asked to make presentations on their area of expertise.

During the second semester of the course we will be able to fully explore relations with other subjects such as topology, combinatorics, and group theory. There will be more guest lectures by professors in those fields and more student presentations.

For all students who decide to join the class from the second semester, we will arrange for introductory lectures by current students and the instructors.

• Instructor: Profs. Dasbach and Stoltzfus.

The knot theory VIR course will study the properties of links with diagrams which project to the torus fiber of the Hopf link. Specifically, we will study the dimer models for the zig-zag links introduced by Stienstra, their Kasteleyn matrices and work to develop related link invariants for these links.

• Instructor: Profs. Harris, He and Olafsson.
• Prerequisites: For graduate students: 7311 or equivalent. For undergraduate students 1550 and 1552 or equivalent.

Representations of semisimple Lie groups are play a central role in several parts of mathematics and physics, including number theory, geometry, and quantum physics. In this course we will discuss several aspects of this broad theory but concentrate on the simples example SL(2,R). We discuss the classification of representations, harmonic analysis on the upper half plane, orbital integrals and other topics. We will partially follow the book by V. S. Varadarajan: An Introduction to Harmonic Analysis on Semisimple Lie groups.

• Instructor:Profs. Sage and Achar.
• Prerequisites: For graduate students: 7210 and 7510. For undergraduates: 4200 and 2085, or permission of the instructor.
• Total Enrolled - 11, Graduate - 11, Undergraduate - 0

On a rotating hollow sphere, there are exactly two points that don't move at all (we might call them the "north and south poles"). The sphere belongs to a large class of important topological spaces with two key features: (1) they have some (perhaps more than one) kind of rotational symmetry, and (2) they have finitely many points that don't move when the space is rotated. "Equivariant cohomology," the subject of this seminar, is a powerful tool for studying the geometry of such spaces. Using equivariant cohomology, we will explore remarkable connections to combinatorics and group theory.

This semester, we will discuss an important result from current research in representation theory called the geometric Satake isomorphism, restricting ourselves to the simplest possible case of the 2 by 2 invertible complex matrices GL2(C). Roughly speaking, this result states that representations of GL2(C) (i.e., group homomorphisms from GL2(C) to GLn(C) for any n) can be understood in terms of the equivariant cohomology of a topological space called the affine Grassmannian. The goal of this course is to make sense of this isomorphism as explicitly as possible and to come up with a new simple proof in this case. (No background in representation theory is assumed.)

• Instructor: Prof. Lawson.
• Prerequisite: A reasonably good background in linear algebra (e.g., Math 2085) and some basic knowledge of probability should be sufficient background for the course.
• Text: Quantum Information by Stephen Barnett, Oxford Press, 2009.
• Total Enrolled - 14, Graduate - 6, Undergraduate - 8

This introductory course on the recently emerging topic of quantum information theory will introduce students to major recent developments such as quantum cryptography, teleportation, error correction, and quantum computing. Basic concepts of quantum theory such as quantum states, entanglement, measurement, etc. will be incorporated into the course, as well as a few other basic background ideas such as elementary information theory. The mathematical content will center on matrix theory (unitary and Hermitian matrices, positive and completely positive operators, Gram-Schmidt decomposition, etc.) together with some probabilistic content.

• Instructor: Prof. Yakimov and Dr. Muller.
• Prerequisite: Permission of Instructor.
• Total Enrolled - 11, Graduate - 10, Undergraduate - 1

Cluster Algebras is a topic of great interest in current mathematics. They were defined by Sergey Fomin and Andrei Zelevinsky in 2001 in relation to problems in combinatorics and Lie groups. Only a few years later they started playing a key role in a number of developments in representation theory, topology, combinatorics and algebraic geometry. The beauty of the subject is that a great deal of it requires almost no prerequisites. Thus undergraduate students who register will be able to understand and lecture on a number of topics. One of the main goals of the course is to go over applications and relations to various areas of mathematics. Graduate students specializing in representation theory, topology, combinatorics and algebraic geometry will see relations to each of these areas and will be asked to make presentations on their area of expertise.

During the second semester of the course we will be able to fully explore relations with other subjects such as topology, combinatorics, and group theory. There will be more guest lectures by professors in those fields and more student presentations.

For all students who decide to join the class for the second semester, we will arrange for introductory lectures by current students and the instructors.

• Instructor: Dasbach, Stoltzfus, and Dr. Russell.
• Prerequisite: a fundamental understanding of abstract algebra.
• Total Enrolled - 12, Graduate - 10, Undergraduate - 2

We will study representations of fundamental groups of knot complements and their combinatorics. Topics will be: The A-polynomial of knots, representations of knot groups into SU(n), combinatorial interpretations of certain knot group representations.

• Instructor: Prof. Sage.
• Prerequisites: For graduate students: 7210 and 7510. For undergraduates: 4200 and 2085, or permission of the instructor.
• Total Enrolled - 6, Graduate - 6, Undergraduate - 0

On a rotating hollow sphere, there are exactly two points that don't move at all (we might call them the "north and south poles"). The sphere belongs to a large class of important topological spaces with two key features: (1) they have some (perhaps more than one) kind of rotational symmetry, and (2) they have finitely many points that don't move when the space is rotated. "Equivariant cohomology," the subject of this seminar, is a powerful tool for studying the geometry of such spaces. Using equivariant cohomology, we will explore remarkable connections to combinatorics and group theory.

This semester, we will discuss an important result from current research in representation theory called the geometric Satake isomorphism, restricting ourselves to the simplest possible case of the 2 by 2 invertible complex matrices GL2(C). Roughly speaking, this result states that representations of GL2(C) (i.e., group homomorphisms from GL2(C) to GLn(C) for any n) can be understood in terms of the equivariant cohomology of a topological space called the affine Grassmannian. The goal of this course is to make sense of this isomorphism as explicitly as possible and to come up with a new simple proof in this case. (No background in representation theory is assumed.)

• Instructor: Prof. Malisoff with Prof. de Queiroz, and Prof. Wolenski.
• Prerequisite: For graduate students: 7320, 7386, or permission of the instructor. For undergraduates: 4027, 4340, or permission of the instructor.
• Text: Notes and recommended references provided by the instructors.
• References: M.S. de Queiroz, D.M. Dawson, S. Nagarkatti, and F. Zhang, Lyapunov-Based Control of Mechanical Systems. Control Engineering Series, Birkhauser, Cambridge, MA, 2000. ISBN: 0-8176-4086-X
• M. Malisoff and F. Mazenc, Constructions of Strict Lyapunov Functions. Communications and Control Engineering Series, Springer-Verlag London Ltd., London, UK, 2009. ISBN: 978-1-84882-534-5
• Total Enrolled - 3, Graduate - 3, Undergraduate - 0

Mathematical control theory is one of the most central and fast growing areas of applied mathematics. This course will help prepare students for research at the interface of engineering and applied mathematics. The first part provides a self-contained introduction to the mathematics of control systems, focusing on feedback stabilization and Lyapunov functions. The second part will be a series of lectures by faculty from the LSU College of Engineering about open problems in control. The third part will explore ways of solving the problems. The only prerequisite is a graduate or advanced undergraduate course on the theory of differential equations. Students from engineering or mathematics are encouraged to enroll.

• Instructor: Prof. Yakimov and Dr. Muller.
• Total Enrolled - 11, Graduate - 6, Undergraduate - 5

Cluster Algebras are a topic of great interest in current mathematics. They were defined by Sergey Fomin and Andrei Zelevinsky in 2001 in relation to problems in combinatorics and Lie groups. Only a few years later they started playing a key role in a number of developments in representation theory, topology, combinatorics and algebraic geometry.

The beauty of the subject is that a great deal of it requires almost no prerequisites. Thus undergraduate students who register will be able to understand and lecture on a number of topics.

One of the main goals of the course is to go over applications and relations to various areas of mathematics. Graduate students specializing in representation theory, topology, combinatorics and algebraic geometry will see relations to each of these areas and will be asked to make presentations on their area of expertise.

• Instructor: Prof. Dasbach..
• Prerequisite: Undergraduate Topology or permission of instructor.
• Total Enrolled - 13, Graduate - 13, Undergraduate - 0

The colored Jones polynomial is one of the more mysterious objects in knot theory. We will start with various definitions of it and will try to develop some of its properties. The methods will be elementary.

• Instructor: Prof. Sage.
• Prerequisites: For graduate students: 7210 and 7510. For undergraduates: 4200 and 2085, or permission of the instructor.
• Total Enrolled - 9, Graduate - 8, Undergraduate - 1

On a rotating hollow sphere, there are exactly two points that don't move at all (we might call them the "north and south poles"). The sphere belongs to a large class of important topological spaces with two key features: (1) they have some (perhaps more than one) kind of rotational symmetry, and (2) they have finitely many points that don't move when the space is rotated. "Equivariant cohomology," the subject of this seminar, is a powerful tool for studying the geometry of such spaces. Using equivariant cohomology, we will explore remarkable connections to combinatorics and group theory.

This semester, we will discuss an important result from current research in representation theory called the geometric Satake isomorphism, restricting ourselves to the simplest possible case of the 2 by 2 invertible complex matrices GL2(C). Roughly speaking, this result states that representations of GL2(C) (i.e., group homomorphisms from GL2(C) to GLn(C) for any n) can be understood in terms of the equivariant cohomology of a topological space called the affine Grassmannian. The goal of this course is to make sense of this isomorphism as explicitly as possible and to come up with a new simple proof in this case. (No background in representation theory is assumed.)

• Instructor: Profs. Ding and Bilinski.
• Total Enrolled - 9, Graduate - 9, Undergraduate - 0

The theme this semester will be graph minors (so basic graph theory will be required). In particular, we will work on special cases for excluding Petersen graph and/or excluding K6. We will also work on problems that are directly related to the current research of our faculty members in combinatorics.

• Instructor: Profs. Dasbach, Stoltzfus, Russell
• Prerequisite: Math 2057 and Math 2085 for undergraduates.
• Total Enrolled - 9, Graduate - 8, Undergraduate - 1

A dimer covering of a graph is a subset of edges that covers every vertex exactly once. Dimer models are important objects of study in statistical mechanics, probability theory and more recently also in topology. We will introduce the basic concepts and we will discuss open problems for dimer models of graphs on surfaces.

• Instructor: Prof. Sung..
• Prerequisite: Math 2057, a numerical analysis course, and an ability to program.
• Total Enrolled - 9, Graduate - 8, Undergraduate - 1

Discontinuous Galerkin (DG) methods are numerical methods for solving differential equations. We will review DG methods developed in recent years and discuss open problems. Graduate students can develop DG methods for various applications. Undergraduate students with background in multivariable calculus, linear algebra and programming will have the opportunity to participate in computational projects.

• Instructor: Profs. Olafsson and He..
• Prerequisites: The prerequisite for undergraduate students is Math 4032 and for graduate students is 7000 level analysis.
• Total Enrolled - 6, Graduate - 6, Undergraduate - 0

In this course, we will discuss the connections between analysis, group theory and physics. The students will read articles and give presentations. The selection of topics will be discussed at the organizational meeting at the beginning of the semester. Topics can include, but not limited to, geometric quantization, uncertainty principle, lowest-energy representations, reflection positive and duality theory.

• Instructor: Prof. He and Prof. Olafsson..
• References: Unitary Group Representations in Physics, Probability and Number theory by George Mackey, 1978; "Symmetric and Unitary Group Representations: I Duality Theory" R.W. Hasse and P. H. Butler, Journal of Physics; A: Math and Theoretical (17) 1984, 61-74; The Principles of Quantum Mechanics by P. Dirac, 1981; Dynamical Symmetries of Nuclear Collective Models, D. Rowe, Prog. Part. Nucl. Phys (37) 265-348, 1996.
• Total Enrolled - 8, Graduate - 7, Undergraduate - 1

This VIR class will concentrate on the interplay between group actions, group representations and physics. Symmetries in the physical world are often described by abstract groups in mathematics. For example, electrons on an orbit observe a certain symmetry defined by permutation group. We will focus on finite groups and continuous groups like the symplectic groups. It will cover topics that are interesting for undergraduate students, like the groups of permutations, and how one can determine their representations. For graduate students then there will be more advance topics like bounded symmetric domains, Geometric quantization, unitary representations of the symplectic groups and why those are interesting for questions in physics.

We will start with some introductory topics in physics and representations of the symmetric group and then slowly move into unsolved problems in mathematical physics. The topics are relevant in fields like analysis, number theory, and physics.

• Instructor: Prof. Dasbach with Profs. Heather Russell and Neal Stoltzfus
• Total Enrolled - 8, Graduate - 6, Undergraduate - 2

Over the last 20 years knot theory became one of the central areas in mathematics. One studies properties of knots, like the unknotting number which measures the easiest way to unknot a knot. Our interest will be in the surfaces on which knots project in some nice way, and what those projections tell us about the knot.

We will learn and apply methods in computer graphics, differential geometry, knot theory and other areas of mathematics. The course is intended for both undergraduate and graduate students.

• Instructor: Prof. Sage..
• Total Enrolled - 8, Graduate - 5, Undergraduate - 3

• Instructor: Prof. Lipton with S. Armstrong..
• Prerequisite: Math 2057 for undergraduate students; Math 7311 for graduate students.
• Total Enrolled - 8, Graduate - 4, Undergraduate - 4

The course provides a self contained and hands on introduction to the field of homogenization theory as well as a guide to the current research literature useful for understanding the mathematics and physics of complex heterogeneous media. The first part of the course introduces the variational tools and useful asymptotic techniques necessary for characterizing the macroscopic behavior of heterogeneous media. Next we explore methods for constructing solutions of field equations inside extreme microstructures such as the the space filling coated spheres construction of Hashin and Shtrikman and the confocal ellipsoid construction of Milton and Tartar. The third part of the course shows how to apply these tools and field constructions to recover new theorems that characterize extreme field behavior inside complex materials in terms of the statistics of the random medium and the applied incident fields.

• Instructor: Prof. Lawson.
• Prerequisite for graduate students who will enroll: Math 7311. (For undergraduates: Math 4031 would be nice, but Math 2057 and some linear algebra are sufficient.)
• References: 1. Special Relativity (M.I.T. Introductory Physics Series) by A. P. French. Paperback: 304 pages Publisher: W. W. Norton; 1 edition (August 19, 1968), ISBN-10: 0393097935 or ISBN-13: 978-0393097931.
  2. Special Relativity (Springer Undergraduate Mathematics Series) by N.M.J. Woodhouse. Paperback: 192 pages, Publisher: Springer, ISBN-10: 1852334266 or ISBN-13: 978-1852334260
• Total Enrolled - 5, Graduate - 5, Undergraduate - 0

This is an LSU VIR course, or vertically integrated research course, for graduate and undergraduate students. It will be taught as Math. 4999-1, to allow both undergraduate and graduate students to participate for credit. The topic is the foundations of special relativity and the related mathematics, including algebra, analysis, and geometry. Topics to be covered include 4--dimensional space--time, reference frames and coordinates, Lorentz transformations, simultaneity, time dilation and length contraction, causality and prohibition of motion faster than light, and composition of velocities. Geometric ideas will be stressed, and there will be an attempt to make connections with hyperbolic geometry. Students will have the opportunity to discuss selected topics in smaller groups and then present them to the others. The course serves as an introduction to research. The expectation is therefore, that the smaller groups will discuss open problems and work on them as we get more familiar with the topic.

• Instructor: Prof. Ding and and Dr. Bilinski.
• Prerequisite: Math 2020.
• Total Enrolled - 7, Graduate - 7, Undergraduate - 0

This is a 3-hour research course with graduate credit. Students will read research papers and solve open problems. More details on the topic, Computing the bandwidth of graphs, can be found in Prof. Ding's website.

• Instructor: Prof. Dasbach and Prof. Stoltzfus.
• Total Enrolled - 9, Graduate - 2, Undergraduate - 7

We will discuss the differential geometry of curves and surfaces in space. The course will also incorporate the use of Mathematica in the computation and visualization. As applications we will offer projects in Computer Graphics and 3-dimensional positioning systems (location detection in space with the help of two cameras).

Project: Each student would complete a project (possibly in groups) and make a presentation on a geometric topic.

• Instructor: Prof. Sage.
• Prerequisite: For graduate students: 7210 and 7510. For undergraduates: 4200 and 2085, or permission of the instructor.
• Total Enrolled - 8, Graduate - 7, Undergraduate - 1

On a rotating hollow sphere, there are exactly two points that don't move at all (we might call them the "north and south poles"). The sphere belongs to a large class of important topological spaces with two key features: (1) they have some (perhaps more than one) kind of rotational symmetry, and (2) they have finitely many points that don't move when the space is rotated. "Equivariant cohomology," the subject of this seminar, is a powerful tool for studying the geometry of such spaces. Using equivariant cohomology, we will explore remarkable connections to combinatorics and group theory.

• Instructor: Prof. Shipman.
• Prerequisite: 2057 for undergraduate students; 7311 for graduate students.
• Total Enrolled - 11, Graduate - 3, Undergraduate - 8

This seminar will investigate the dynamical behavior of complex materials and fluids and the behavior of fields that they host. One of the topics will be the interaction of electromagnetic waves with composite materials consisting of natural and artificial components. This includes the creation and characterization of meta-materials and the phenomena of resonance. The mathematics will involve a wide range of topics in analysis and partial differential equations, including homogenization, scattering theory, special functions, and integral equations. For more information, please see Professor Shipmans' website.

• Instructors: M. Bilinski (VIGRE postdoc) and G. Ding.
• Total Enrolled - 7, Graduate - 5, Undergraduate - 2