Manifolds of Positive Scalar Curvature
Shmuel Weinberger, The University of Chicago
Abstract: The study of manifolds of positive scalar curvature has a long history and deep connections to general relativity and geometric topology. For several decades, through the work of Gromov and Lawson and Stolz, we know which simply connected closed manifolds have such metrics.
I will try to explain parts of this beautiful story, and then explain work with Manin, Xie and Yu that give information about how hard it is to find such metrics. Despite our focus on simply connected manifolds, geometric group theory, logic, C*-algebras and homotopy theory all play a role (although most of these will probably need to remain behind the curtains).
Tea and refreshments available from 3:00-3:25 p.m. in the Assmus Conference Room (CU 212).
