NSF/CBMS Regional Conference in the Mathematical Sciences: Tropical Geometry & Mirror Symmetry, December 13-17, 2008

Kansas State University, Manhattan KS

Investigators

Abstract

The emphasis of this conference will be put on the interplay between tropical geometry and mirror symmetry. The principal lecturer will be Mark Gross from University of California, San Diego. Mirror symmetry poses the equivalence between different models of string theory. This phenomenon involves several dualities such as the Homological Mirror symmetry, the Strominger-Yau-Zaslow duality, the Batyrev-Borisov duality, and the Landau-Ginzburg model. Tropical geometry is a relatively new subject that has proved to be very effective solving problems in computer science, mathematical biology and statistical physics. In the past few years, tropical geometry has also been applied to solve problems in Gromov-Witten theory and, more recently, mirror symmetry. The conference will provide a comprehensive expository treatment of the interaction between tropical geometry and mirror symmetry. Mark Gross will deliver a series of lectures around subjects such as: tropical curves & affine manifolds; Calabi-Yau degenerations & logarithmic structures; and the tropical Morse category. In addition, there will be introductory mini-courses and special seminar lectures delivered by leading experts in the field.