Geometry and Topology of String Theory

Northwestern University, Evanston IL

Investigators

Abstract

DMS-0401953 Ezra Getzler and Eric Zaslow This award supports a conference at Northwestern University on the mathematics surrounding the theory of branes, in the context of the Emphasis Year on Geometric and Topological Methods in String Theory at Northwestern University. In addition, the award also supports a series of mini-workshops and seminars to be held before the conference, which is particularly directed at students and post-docs. This conference will foster a mutually beneficial interaction between mathematicians and physicists. In addition, the activities are expected to play a role in advertising potential applications of these emerging methods elsewhere in geometry and topology. Geometric and homotopy-theoretic methods have proved of increasing importance to the study of string theory and associated areas of physics in the last few years: we may mention Fukaya and Kontsevich's introduction of A1-categories and the role of manifolds of G2-holonomy as just two examples. The flow of ideas has gone in the other direction as well. For example, string duality has suggested new directions of research on derived categories of algebraic varieties.