Algebraic & Enumerative Combinatorics - Sarah Brauner

Thursday, May 16, 2024 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EDT (GMT -04:00)

Title: Configuration spaces and combinatorial algebras

Speaker: Sarah Brauner
Affiliation: UQAM
Location: MC 6029

There will be a pre-seminar presenting relevant background at the beginning graduate level starting at 1pm.

Abstract:  In this talk, I will discuss connections between configuration spaces, an important class of topological space, and combinatorial algebras arising from the theory of reflection groups. In particular, I will present work relating the cohomology rings of some classical configuration spaces—such as the space of n ordered points in Euclidean space—with Solomon’s descent algebra and the peak algebra. The talk will be centered around two questions.

First, how are these objects related?

Second, how can studying one inform the other? This is partially joint work with Marcelo Aguiar and Vic Reiner.