Special Colloquium
Craig Westerland
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Hurwitz Spaces and String Topology
Abstract: String topology, originating in the work of Chas and
Sullivan inthe late 90's, concerns itself with the algebraic and
topological properties of loop spaces of manifolds. Many interesting
connections to representation theory and symplectic geometry have
recently been established. Hurwitz spaces are moduli spaces of
branched covers of Riemann surfaces. In this talk we will propose a
generalization of this notion that serves as a bridge between the two
subjects, and allows for the construction of operations in string
topology governed by the moduli spaces of Riemann surfaces.
There will be a meet and greet right after the talk in SEO 300. Coffee, tea, & cookies will be provided.
Monday January 28, 2008 at 3:00 PM in SEO 636