Graduate Student Seminar | Julian Rennert, (quasi-) Hopf algebras and their origin in physics

MC 5417

Speaker

Julian Rennert | Applied Math, University of Waterloo

Title

(quasi-) Hopf algebras and their origin in physics

Abstract

Symmetry has always played an important role in physics and our description of nature. Quantum theory in particular allows for more general symmetries than those we know from classical physics and the most general, compatible with our current understanding of quantum physics, are given by so-called quasi-Hopf algebra symmetries.

In this first lecture we give a simple introduction into the topic of (quasi-) Hopf algebras and present some of their origins and current applications in physics and mathematics such as 3D quantum gravity, Knot-invariants and quantum computing.