Georgia Institute of Technology

Strings, Trees, and RNA Folding

Thu, 11/19/2009 - 11:00am, Skiles 269

Christine Heitsch, School of Mathematics, Georgia Tech        Organizer: Guillermo Goldsztein

Understanding the folding of RNA sequences into three-dimensional structures is one of the fundamental challenges in molecular biology. In this talk, we focus on understanding how an RNA viral genome can fold into the dodecahedral cage known from experimental data. Using strings and trees as a combinatorial model of RNA folding, we give mathematical results which yield insight into RNA structure formation and suggest new directions in viral capsid assembly. We also illustrate how the interaction between discrete mathematics and molecular biology motivates new combinatorial theorems as well as advancing biomedical applications.

DYNAMICAL NETWORKS, ISOSPECTRAL GRAPH REDUCTION

Thu, 11/05/2009 - 11:00am, Skiles 269

Lyonia Bunimovich, Georgia Tech        Organizer: Guillermo Goldsztein

Real life networks are usually large and have a very complicated structure. It is tempting therefore to simplify or reduce the associated graph of interactions in a network while maintaining its basic structure as well as some characteristic(s) of the original graph. A key question is which characteristic(s) to conserve while reducing a graph. Studies of dynamical networks reveal that an important characteristic of a network's structure is a spectrum of its adjacency matrix. In this talk we present an approach which allows for the reduction of a general weighted graph in such a way that the spectrum of the graph's (weighted) adjacency matrix is maintained up to some finite set that is known in advance. (Here, the possible weights belong to the set of complex rational functions, i.e. to a very general class of weights). A graph can be isospectrally reduced to a graph on any subset of its nodes, which could be an important property for various applications. It is also possible to introduce a new equivalence relation in the set of all networks. Namely, two networks are spectrally equivalent if each of them can be isospectrally reduced onto one and the same (smaller) graph. This result should also be useful for analysis of real networks. As the first application of the isospectral graph reduction we considered a problem of estimation of spectra of matrices. It happens that our procedure allows for improvements of the estimates obtained by all three classical methods given by Gershgorin, Brauer and Brualdi. (Joint work with B.Webb) A talk will be readily accessible to undergraduates familiar with matrices and complex functions.

Theory and Applications of Model Equations for Surface Water Waves

Thu, 10/22/2009 - 11:00am, Skiles 269

Jerry Bona, University of Illinois at Chicago        Organizer: Guillermo Goldsztein

After a brief account of some of the history of this classical subject, we indicate how such models are derived. Rigorous theory justifying the models will be discussed and the conversation will then turn to some applications. These will be drawn from questions arising in geophysics and coastal engineering, as time permits.

The dynamical shape of a complex polynomial

Thu, 10/08/2009 - 11:00am, Skiles 269

Laura DeMarco, Department of Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science, University of Illinois, Chicago        Organizer: Guillermo Goldsztein

A classification of the dynamics of polynomials in one complex variable has remained elusive, even when considering only the simpler "structurally stable" polynomials. In this talk, I will describe the basics of polynomial iteration, leading up to recent results in the direction of a complete classification. In particular, I will describe a (singular) metric on the complex plane induced by the iteration of a polynomial. I will explain how this geometric structure relates to topological conjugacy classes within the moduli space of polynomials.

The Asymmetric Simple Exclusion Process: Integrable Structure and Limit Theorems

Thu, 09/24/2009 - 11:05am, Skiles 269

Distinguished Professor Craig Tracy, University of California, Davis        Organizer: Guillermo Goldsztein

The asymmetric simple exclusion process (ASEP) is a continuous time Markov process of interacting particles on a lattice \Gamma. ASEP is defined by two rules: (1) A particle at x \in \Gamma waits an exponential time with parameter one, and then chooses y \in \Gamma with probability p(x, y); (2) If y is vacant at that time it moves to y, while if y is occupied it remains at x. The main interest lies in infinite particle systems. In this lecture we consider the ASEP on the integer lattice {\mathbb Z} with nearest neighbor jump rule: p(x, x+1) = p, p(x, x-1) = 1-p and p \ne 1/2. The integrable structure is that of Bethe Ansatz. We discuss various limit theorems which in certain cases establishes KPZ universality.

Big Bang and the Quantum

Wed, 08/26/2009 - 3:00pm, Chemistry and Biochemistry Boggs Building, Room B-6A

Abhay Ashtekar, Department of Physics and Institute for Gravitational Physics and Geometry, Pennsylvania State University, email        Organizer: Lew Lefton

General relativity is based on a deep interplay between physics and mathematics: Gravity is encoded in geometry. It has had spectacular observational success and has also pushed forward the frontier of geometric analysis. But the theory is incomplete because it ignores quantum physics. It predicts that the space-time ends at singularities such as the big-bang. Physics then comes to a halt. Recent developments in loop quantum gravity show that these predictions arise because the theory has been pushed beyond the domain of its validity. With new inputs from mathematics, one can extend cosmology beyond the big-bang. The talk will provide an overview of this new and rich interplay between physics and mathematics.

Pre-reception at 2:30 in Room N201.  If you would like to meet with Prof. Ashtekar while he is on campus (at the Center for Relativistic Astrophysics - Boggs building), please contact lori.federico@physics.gatech.edu.

Archimedes' Principle and Capillarity

Thu, 04/16/2009 - 4:30pm, Skiles 269

John McCuan, School of Mathematics, Georgia Tech        Organizer: Guillermo Goldsztein

Archimedes principle may be used to predict if and how certain solid objects float in a liquid bath. The principle, however, neglects to consider capillary forces which can sometimes play an important role. We describe a recent generalization of the principle and how the standard textbook presentation of Archimedes' work may have played a role in delaying the discovery of such generalizations to this late date.

Compensated compactness and isometric embedding

Thu, 04/02/2009 - 11:00am, Skiles 269

Marshall Slemrod, Department of Mathematics, University of Wisconsin        Organizer: Guillermo Goldsztein

In this talk I will outline recent results of G-Q Chen, Dehua Wang, and me on the problem of isometric embedding a two dimensional Riemannian manifold with negative Gauss curvature into three dimensional Euclidean space. Remarkably there is very pretty duality between this problem and the equations of steady 2-D gas dynamics. Compensated compactness (L.Tartar and F.Murat) yields proof of existence of solutions to an initial value problem when the prescribed metric is the one associated with the catenoid.

On the dimension of the Navier-Stokes singular set

Thu, 03/26/2009 - 11:00am, Skiles 269

Walter Craig, McMaster University        Organizer: Guillermo Goldsztein

A new estimate on weak solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations in three dimensions gives some information about the partial regularity of solutions. In particular, if energy concentration takes place, the dimension of the microlocal singular set cannot be too small. This estimate has a dynamical systems proof. These results are joint work with M. Arnold and A. Biryuk.

Dimers and random interfaces

Thu, 03/05/2009 - 11:00am, Skiles 269

Rick Kenyon, Mathematics Department, Brown University        Organizer: Guillermo Goldsztein

This is joint work with Andrei Okounkov. The ``honeycomb dimer model'' is a natural model of discrete random surfaces in R^3. It is possible to write down a ``Law of Large Numbers" for such surfaces which describes the typical shape of a random surface when the mesh size tends to zero. Surprisingly, one can parameterize these limit shapes in a very simple way using analytic functions, somewhat reminiscent of the Weierstrass parameterization of minimal surfaces. This is even more surprising since the limit shapes tend to be facetted, that is, only piecewise analytic. There is a large family of boundary conditions for which we can obtain exact solutions to the limit shape problem using algebraic geometry techniques. This family includes the (well-known) solution to the limit shape of a ``boxed plane partition'' and has many generalizations.

Geometry and complexity of partition bijections

Thu, 02/26/2009 - 11:00am, Skiles 269

Igor Pak, University of Minnesota        Organizer: Guillermo Goldsztein

The study of partition identities has a long history going back to Euler, with applications ranging from Analysis to Number Theory, from Enumerative Combina- torics to Probability. Partition bijections is a combinatorial approach which often gives the shortest and the most elegant proofs of these identities. These bijections are then often used to generalize the identities, find "hidden symmetries", etc. In the talk I will present a modern approach to partition bijections based on the geometry of random partitions and complexity ideas.

Molecular topology - Applying graph theory to health science

Thu, 02/19/2009 - 11:00am, Skiles 269

Amigo Garcia, Miguel Hernández University, Spain        Organizer: Guillermo Goldsztein

Molecular topology is an application of graph theory to fields like chemistry, biology and pharmacology, in which the molecular structure matters. Its scope is the topological characterization of molecules by means of numerical invariants, called topological indices, which are the main ingredient of the molecular topological models. These models have been instrumental in the discovery of new applications of naturally occurring molecules, as well as in the design of synthetic molecules with specific chemical, biological or pharmacological properties. The talk will focus on pharmacological applications.

On the long-time behavior of 2-d flows

Thu, 02/05/2009 - 11:00am, Skiles 269

Alexander Shnirelman, Department of Mathematics, Concordia University        Organizer: Guillermo Goldsztein

Consider the 2-d ideal incompressible fluid moving inside a bounded domain (say 2-d torus). It is described by 2-d Euler equations which have unique global solution; thus, we have a dynamical system in the space of sufficiently regular incompressible vector fields. The global properties of this system are poorly studied, and, as much as we know, paradoxical. It turns out that there exists a global attractor (in the energy norm), i.e. a set in the phase space attracting all trajectories (in spite the fact that the system is conservative). This apparent contradiction leads to some deep questions of non-equilibrium statistical mechanics.

Global asymptotic analysis of the Painleve transcendents. The Riemann-Hilbert Approach

Thu, 01/22/2009 - 11:00am, Skiles 269

Alexander Its, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis        Organizer: Guillermo Goldsztein

In this talk we will review some of the global asymptotic results obtained during the last two decades in the theory of the classical Painleve equations with the help of the Isomonodromy - Riemann-Hilbert method. The results include the explicit derivation of the asymptotic connection formulae, the explicit description of linear and nonlinear Stokes phenomenon and the explicit evaluation of the distribution of poles. We will also discuss some of the most recent results emerging due to the appearance of Painleve equations in random matrix theory. The Riemann-Hilbert method will be outlined as well.

Schur's problems on means of algebraic numbers

Thu, 01/15/2009 - 11:00am, Skiles 269

Igor Pritzker, Oklahoma State University        Organizer: Guillermo Goldsztein

Issai Schur (1918) considered a class of polynomials with integer coefficients and simple zeros in the closed unit disk. He studied the limit behavior of the arithmetic means s_n for zeros of such polynomials as the degree n tends to infinity. Under the assumption that the leading coefficients are bounded, Schur proved that \limsup_{n\to\infty} |s_n| \le 1-\sqrt{e}/2. We show that \lim_{n\to\infty} s_n = 0 as a consequence of the asymptotic equidistribution of zeros near the unit circle. Furthermore, we estimate the rate of convergence of s_n to 0. These results follow from our generalization of the Erdos-Turan theorem on discrepancy in angular equidistribution of zeros. We give a range of applications to polynomials with integer coefficients. In particular, we show that integer polynomials have some unexpected restrictions of growth on the unit disk. Schur also studied problems on means of algebraic numbers on the real line. When all conjugate algebraic numbers are positive, the problem of finding \liminf_{n\to\infty} s_n was developed further by Siegel and many others. We provide a solution of this problem for algebraic numbers equidistributed in subsets of the real line.