Graduate Geometry, Topology and Dynamics Seminar
Edgar A. Bering IV
UIC
What is Outer Space?
Abstract: A long running theme in mathematics is the analogy between $SL_2(\mathbb{Z})$, the mapping class group of a hyperbolic surface, and the outer automorphism group of a free group.
In this talk we will focus on $Out(F_n)$, and introduce Culler-Vogtmann Outer Space, a contractible topological space that plays a role analogous to the Hyperbolic plane for $SL_2(\mathbb{Z})$ or Teichmüller space for $Mod(S)$.
Discussing the analogy and constructing Outer Space will take most of our time, but we will at least mention theorems that can be obtained by studying the action of $Out(F_n)$ on Outer Space.
Wednesday April 8, 2015 at 3:00 PM in SEO 612