Algebraic Geometry Working Seminar

AJ Fong, University of Waterloo

Toric geometry without (most of) the geometry

Toric varieties are great because they lend themselves to combinatorial description and study. I will introduce some of the combinatorial objects involved, leaning heavily on and subsequently specialising to smooth toric surfaces as simple examples. If time permits, I will demonstrate the power of this approach by showing a result on Galois representations of toric surfaces.