Triangle Seminars

Abstract:
Models of random matrices can be viewed as zero-dimensional analogs of usual field theory. Despite decades of exploration, matrix models remain at the forefront of intensive research, motivated by a rich web of connections to string theory, quantum gravity, integrability, Yang-Mills theory, combinatorics, geometry and representation theory. These lectures will present a pedagogical introduction to the subject.

​Lecture 1. Motivation and basic definitions. Hermitian matrix models: Feynman rules, ribbon graphs, large N genus expansion.
Lecture 2. Reduction to eigenvalues. Large N limit, Coulomb gas approach, saddle point equations.

Abstract:
The gravitational wave signal from precessing systems (those where the spins of the black holes are misaligned with the orbital angular momentum of the binary) is complicated by oscillations in the amplitude and phase, making such systems difficult to understand and to model. This is further compounded by a scarcity of highly precessing waveforms available in public catalogues, required for studying the merger-ringdown signal. However, as we venture into an era of increasingly sensitive detectors, it is ever more important to have a thorough understanding of precessing systems– as well as highly accurate, computationally robust models for use in the analysis of gravitational wave signals. I will discuss recent developments and challenges in understanding the phenomenologies of these systems.

Abstract:
Unfortunately this seminar has been cancelled.

Abstract:
I will review the color-kinematics duality for gauge theories in scattering amplitudes and explain
how it manifest itself for the case off-shell duality for Chern-Simons theory. I will discuss the relation to gravity via
double copy constructions. If time allows I will talk about BV formalism behind this construction and some other
examples.

Abstract:
We will review some properties of boundaries to spacetime both in a Riemannian and Lorentzian setting for Einstein’s gravity. We will outline some surprising new results about what boundary conditions allow a good behaviour for the bulk theory.

Abstract:
Recently, there has been an increasing interest in the study of defects in quantum field theories, where holography has become a fruitful framework that enables the study of different aspects of super-(conformal) gauge theories.
In this talk, I will discuss supergravity solutions that are dual to super conformal monodromy defects. These solutions are obtained using gauged supergravities in D=4,5,6 and 7 dimensions. I will present a prescription to compute the defect entanglement entropy, outlining the renormalization procedure needed to regularise its divergencies, which I will discuss in detail. In some cases, we are also able to express this quantity in terms of the free energy/Weyl anomaly of the defect and its conformal weight. If time allows, I will also discuss some new results for non-conformal monodromy defects.

Abstract:
Recently, there has been an increasing interest in the study of defects in quantum field theories, where holography has become a fruitful framework that enables the study of different aspects of super-(conformal) gauge theories.
In this talk, I will discuss supergravity solutions that are dual to super conformal monodromy defects. These solutions are obtained using gauged supergravities in D=4,5,6 and 7 dimensions. I will present a prescription to compute the defect entanglement entropy, outlining the renormalization procedure needed to regularise its divergencies, which I will discuss in detail. In some cases, we are also able to express this quantity in terms of the free energy/Weyl anomaly of the defect and its conformal weight. If time allows, I will also discuss some new results for non-conformal monodromy defects.