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Conformal Geometry and a Solution Generating Algebra

PDE and Applied Math Seminar

Speaker: Andrew Waldron, UC Davis
Location: 2112 MSB
Start time: Thu, May 19 2011, 3:10PM

Many of the equations of mathematical physics are formulated in terms of Riemannian geometry. Only very few of these systems are conformally invariant, so they are rarely studied using conformal geometry. In fact, using simple arguments about choices of unit systems, it is in fact possible to write models very generally in terms of conformal geometry. Conformal transformations, of course, do not appear as symmetries, but instead underly a "solution generating algebra" which allows formal solutions to be written down in a very simple way.