Mathematics Colloquia and Seminars

Return to Colloquia & Seminar listing

Distinguishing chambers of the moment polytope

Algebra & Discrete Mathematics

Speaker: Tara Holm, UC Berkeley
Location: 693 Kerr
Start time: Fri, Nov 21 2003, 2:10PM

I will discuss a problem that lies in the intersection of symplectic geometry and combinatorics. Given a compact symplectic manifold equipped with a Hamiltonian torus action, we can define a convex polytope called the moment polytope. This polytope has internal structure, and some interesting combinatorial questions include determining the number of chambers inside the moment polytope, and finding a way to distinguish the chambers. I will discuss some of the symplectic geometry and lots of the combinatorics involved in the answers to these questions.