This Week in Mathematics

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Department of Mathematics

The Florida State University

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This Week in Mathematics

23 - 27 November 1998

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Monday: 23 November 1998
: $*$ MARTECH Seminar, 2:30 p.m., 707 Keen Building; Arne T. Skjeltorp, Institute for Energy Technology, Kjeller, Norway and Physics Dept., University of Oslo; Knotty Physical Problems and Braid Solutions; How, in a simple and forceful way, do we characterize the dynamics of systems with several moving componentsr? The methods based on the theory of braids may provide the answer. Knot and braid theory belong to a subfield of mathematics known as topology. It involves classifying different ways of tracing curves in space. Knot theory originated more than a century ago and is today a very active area of mathematics.; Recently, we [1] have been able to use notions from braid theory to map the complicated trajectories of tiny magnetic beads confined between two plates and subjected to complex magnetic fields. The essentially two-dimensional motion of a bead can be represented as a curve in a three-dimensional space-time diagram, and so several beads in motion produce a set of braided curves. The topological description of these braids thus provides a simple and concise language for describing the dynamics of the system, as if the beads perform a complicated dance as they move about one another, and the braid encodes the choreography of this dance.; [1] With Sigmund Clausen (Thesis, Physics Dept., Univ. of Oslo, 1998) and Geir Helgesen, IFE.; As always, refreshments will be served.

Tuesday: 24 November
: $*$ Algebraic Geometry Seminar, 2:00 p.m., 104 Love Building; Angela Vierling, Florida State University; The 27 Lines on a Cubic Surface
: $*$ No Knot Theory Seminar, 3:35 p.m., 104 Love Building
Wednesday: 25 November
: $*$ No (Real) Analysis Seminar, 2:30 p.m., 102 Love Building
: $*$ No Complex/Symbolic Coffee, 3:15 p.m., 105 Love Building; $*$ No Complex/Symbolic Seminar, 3:35 p.m., 102 Love Building

Thursday: 26 November THANKSGIVING
: $*$ No Algebra Seminar, 2:00 p.m., 104 Love Building
: $*$ No Topology Tea Time, 3:00 p.m., 204 Love Building; $*$ No Topology Seminar, 3:35 p.m., 104 Love Building

Friday: 27 November
: $*$ No Graduate Student Seminar, 12:20 p.m., 204 Love Building
: $*$ No Colloquium Coffee, 3:00 p.m., 204 Love Building; $*$ No Colloquium, 3:30 p.m., 101 Love Building
: $*$ No Scientific Computing Seminar, 4:30 p.m., 200 Love Building

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$*$ Seminars and colloquia at "that other" university [a.k.a. the University of Florida]
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This document is maintained by Melissa Elaine Smith / smith@math.fsu.edu
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