MS Seminar (Mathematics - String Theory)

Speaker: Ingo Runkel (King's College London)
Title: Defects and symmetries
Date (JST): Tue, Jul 21, 2009, 15:30 - 16:00
Place: Seminar Room at IPMU Prefab. B
Abstract: The study of quantum systems with defects provides insights into mmetries and dualities of such systems. An interesting class of examples which is still under good mathematical control is provided by two-dimensional conformal field theories. I will explain how in these models, defects provide a unifying point of view on symmetries and dualities, as well as on orbifolds and obstructions to orbifolding. In these applications it is crucial that one allows the defect lines to join and split so that they form entire defect networks.