Special Colloquium
Spencer Dowdall
UIUC
Splittings, suspension flows, and polynomials for free-by-cyclic groups
Abstract: The semi-direct product of a finite-rank free group with the integers can often be expressed as such a product in infinitely many ways.
This talk will explore this phenomenon and work towards 1) describing the structure of the family of such splittings of a given group, and
2) looking for for relationships between the splittings themselves. Along the way, we'll study dynamical systems ranging from graph maps
and cross sections of semi-flows to newly introduced polynomial invariants tying these all together. Time permitting, I'll discuss geometric
properties of more general free group extensions. This represents work with Ilya Kapovich and Christopher Leininger, and separately with
Samuel Taylor.
There is a Meet & Greet Tea right after the talk in SEO 300.
Wednesday January 14, 2015 at 3:00 PM in SEO 636