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Invariants of Hopf algebra tensors via 3-manifolds, or Why algebra needs topology
Student-Run Research Seminar| Speaker: | Rohit Thomas, UC Davis |
| Location: | 2112 MSB |
| Start time: | Wed, Apr 30 2008, 12:10PM |
Hopf algebras are vector spaces with certain additional structure. 3-manifolds are topological spaces which look locally like 3-dimensional space. Hopf algebras can be used to construct invariants of 3-manifolds, and 3-manifolds can be used to construct invariants of Hopf algebra tensors.
After an elementary introduction to all these notions, I will outline the construction of these invariants and explain why Hopf algebraists should study 3-manifold topology--and vice versa!