# Events - September 2021

Thursday, September 30, 2021 — 1:00 PM EDT

## Algebraic Combinatorics Seminar - John Noel

Title: Forcing Quasirandomness in Permutations

 Speaker: John Noel Affiliation: University of Victoria Zoom: Contact Steve Melczer

Abstract:

A striking result in graph theory is that the property of a graph being quasirandom (i.e. resembling a random graph) is characterized by the number of edges and the number of 4-cycles being close to the expected number in a random graph. Král’ and Pikhurko (2013) proved an analogous result for permutations; i.e. that quasirandom permutations are characterized by the densities of all permutations of length 4.

Thursday, September 30, 2021 — 11:00 AM EDT

## Optimization: Theory, Algorithms, Applications Lecture Series (The Fields Institute) - Bissan Ghaddar

Title: Structured (In)Feasibility: Nonmonotone Operator Splitting in Nonlinear Spaces

 Speaker: Bissan Ghaddar Affiliation: Western University Zoom: Register through The Fields Institute

Abstract:

Several challenging optimization problems in power networks involve operational decisions, non-linear models of the underlying physics described by the network as well as uncertainty in the system parameters. However, these networks exhibit a nice structure. This talk provides an overview of approaches that combine recent advances in robust optimization and conic relaxations of polynomial optimization problems along with exploiting the structure of the underlying problem. These approaches are demonstrated on applications arising in power networks.

Thursday, September 30, 2021 — 10:00 AM EDT

## Optimization: Theory, Algorithms, Applications Lecture Series (The Fields Institute) - Miguel Anjos

Title: Semidefinite Optimization Approaches for Reactive Optimal Power Flow Problems

 Speaker: Miguel Anjos Affiliation: University of Edinburgh Zoom: Register through The Fields Institute

Abstract:

The Reactive Optimal Power Flow (ROPF) problem consists in computing an optimal power generation dispatch for an alternating current transmission network that respects power flow equations and operational constraints. Some means of voltage control are modelled in ROPF such as the possible activation of shunts, and these controls are modelled using discrete variables. The ROPF problem belongs to the class of nonconvex MINLPs, which are NP-hard problems. We consider semidefinite optimization approaches for solving ROPF problems and their integration into a branch-and-bound algorithm.

Monday, September 27, 2021 — 11:30 AM EDT

## Algebraic Graph Theory Seminar - Thomás Spier

Title: Graph Continued Fractions

 Speaker: Thomás Spier Affiliation: Matemática Pura e Aplicada (IMPA) Zoom: Contact Soffia Arnadottir

Abstract:

This talk is about a connection between matching polynomials and continued fractions. For the matching polynomials: we prove a refinement of a theorem by Ku and Wong, which extends the classical Gallai-Edmonds decomposition;

Friday, September 24, 2021 — 3:30 PM EDT

## Tutte Colloquium - Tibor Jager

Title: Tightly-Secure Digital Signatures

 Speaker: Tibor Jager Affiliation: University of Wuppertal, Germany Zoom: Please email Emma Watson

Abstract:

This talk will cover two recent results on tightly-secure digital signature schemes from PKC 2021 and ASIACRYPT 2021.

The first part will consider a strong multi-user security definition for signatures with adaptive corruptions of secret keys, discuss its applications, and the technical challenges of constructing signatures with tight security in this setting. Then we will show a quite simple and efficient construction, based on sequential OR-proofs.

Monday, September 20, 2021 — 11:03 AM EDT

## Algebraic Graph Theory Seminar - Kate Lorenzen

Title: Spectral Properties of the exponential distance matrix

 Speaker: Kate Lorenzen Affiliation: Linfield University Zoom: Contact Soffia Arnadottir

Abstract:

Given a graph $G$, the exponential distance matrix is defined entry-wise by letting the $(u,v)$-entry be $q^{dist(u,v)}$ where $dist(u,v)$ is the distance between the vertices $u$ and $v$ with the convention that if vertices are in different components, then $q^{dist(u,v)}=0$. We establish several properties of the characteristic polynomial (spectrum) for this matrix and the inertia of some graph families.

Friday, September 17, 2021 — 3:30 PM EDT

## Tutte Colloquium - Alex Pothen

Title: Approximation Algorithms for Matchings in Big Graphs

 Speaker: Alex Pothen Affiliation: Purdue University Zoom: Please email Emma Watson

Abstract:

Matchings in graphs are classical problems in combinatorial optimization and computer science, significant due to their theoretical importance and relevance to applications. Polynomial time algorithms for several variant matching problems with linear objective functions have been known for fifty years, with important contributions from Tutte, Edmonds, Cunningham, and Pulleyblank (all with Waterloo associations), and they are discussed in the textbook literature.

Monday, September 13, 2021 — 11:30 AM EDT

## Algebraic Graph Theory Seminar - Chris Godsil

Title: Tails and Chains

 Speaker: Chris Godsil Affiliation: University of Waterloo Zoom: Contact Soffia Arnadottir

Abstract:

Physicists are interested in "graphs with tails"; these are constructed by choosing a graph X and a subset C of its vertices, then attaching a path of length n to each vertex in C. We ask what is the spectrum of such graph? What happen if n increases? We will see that the answer reduces to questions about the matrix

$M(\zeta) := (\zeta_\zeta^{-1})I - A -\zeta D$

where D is the diagonal 01-matrix with D_{i,i}=1 if i is in C.

Friday, September 10, 2021 — 3:30 PM EDT

## Tutte Colloquium - Jane Ye

Title: On solving bilevel programming problems

 Speaker: Jane Ye Affiliation: University of Victoria Zoom: Please email Emma Watson

Abstract:

A bilevel programming problem is a sequence of two optimization problems where the constraint region of the upper level problem is determined implicitly by the solution set to the lower level problem. It can be used to model a two-level hierarchical system where the two decision makers have different objectives and make their decisions on different levels of hierarchy. Recently more and more applications including those in machine learning have been modelled as bilevel optimization problems. In this talk, I will report some recent developments in optimality conditions and numerical algorithms for solving this class of very difficult optimization problems.

Thursday, September 9, 2021 — 11:00 AM EDT

## Optimization: Theory, Algorithms, Applications Lecture Series (The Fields Institute) - Russell Luke

Title: Structured (In)Feasibility: Nonmonotone Operator Splitting in Nonlinear Spaces

 Speaker: Russell Luke Affiliation: University of Goettingen Zoom: Register through The Fields Institute

Abstract:

The success of operator splitting techniques for convex optimization has led to an explosion of methods for solving large-scale and nonconvex optimization problems via convex relaxation. This success is at the cost of overlooking direct approaches to operator splitting that embrace some of the more inconvenient aspects of many model problems, namely nonconvexity, nonsmoothness, and infeasibility.

Thursday, September 9, 2021 — 10:00 AM EDT

## Optimization: Theory, Algorithms, Applications Lecture Series (The Fields Institute) - Radu Ioan Bot

Title: Factorization of completely positive matrices using iterative projected gradient steps

 Speaker: Radu Ioan Bot Affiliation: University of Vienna Zoom: Register through The Fields Institute

Abstract:

We aim to factorize a completely positive matrix by using an optimization approach which consists in the minimization of a nonconvex smooth function over a convex and compact set. To solve this problem we propose a projected gradient algorithm with parameters that take into account the effects of relaxation and inertia. Both projection and gradient steps are simple in the sense that they have explicit formulas and do not require inner loops. We show that the sequence of generated iterates

Friday, September 3, 2021 — 3:30 PM EDT

## Tutte Colloquium - Ross Kang

Title: Chromatic structure in locally sparse graphs

 Speaker: Ross Kang Affiliation: Radboud University Nijmegen Zoom: Please email Emma Watson

Abstract:

Efforts to understand the structure of triangle-free graphs have long played a central role in the development of combinatorial mathematics. Classic results of Mantel (1907), Ramsey (1930), Blanche Descartes (1948) produce global structure from the local property of having no edges in any neighbourhood. Despite the scrutiny it has sustained over the decades, study of this topic, and its close relatives, continues to uncover surprisingly basic challenges, insights and connections. I will give a brief overview of the history as well as the focus of current/recent momentum.

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