[Seminar] Knot Theory: Seifert Surfaces and Zeros of the Alexander Polynomial | Prof. Mikami Hirasawa (Nagoya Institute of Technology)

The speaker:Prof. Mikami Hirasawa (Nagoya Institute of Technology)

Title: Matrix Bootstrap Approximation without Positivity Constraint

AbstractThis talk will be an introductory overview of some topics in knot theory. In topology, a knot is a closed flexible loop embedded in space, and a Seifert surface for a knot is an orientable surface whose boundary coincides with the knot. The Alexander polynomial is a knot invariant, analogous in some sense to a characteristic polynomial of the knot, and can be computed from any diagram of the same knot. The distribution of the zeros of the polynomial is of particular interest. In this talk, we consider manipulations of Seifert surfaces and study the zeros of the Alexander polynomial. The motivation for this talk lies in the interplay among geometric properties of knots, properties of the Alexander polynomial, its coefficients, and the distribution of its zeros.

Date and time: 20th May Wednesday at 15:00