Graduate Geometry, Topology and Dynamics Seminar
Ali Mohajer
UIC
A Simple Proof of Thue's Theorem
Abstract: Bees have known for millions of years that arranging equal disks in a hexagonal lattice gives the highest density packing.
Around 1773, Lagrange proved this conjecture for packings of equal disks whose centers lie on a lattice, and around 1900, Axel Thue presented a proof for packings with disks in general position. Better proofs have been presented since (notably by L. Fejes Toth in 1940), and today we will present a simple, computationally elementary proof using Delaunay triangulation of the plane.
This method holds promise for exploring bounds on densities of packings of homogeneity less than 1.
Due to the special colloguium today, this talk will start at 4:30 and will be short and accessible. Please note the changed location.
Wednesday November 28, 2012 at 4:30 PM in SEO 1315