Topics on von Neumann algebras (06w5086)
Organizers
Juliana Erlijman (University of Regina)
Hans Wenzl (University of California, San Diego)
Description
The Banff International Research Station will host top researchers in its workshop on von Neumann algebras this week, September 16-21, 2006. Among them there will be two Fields medalists, Vaughan Jones from Berkeley and Michael Freedman from Microsoft as well as leading figures in the study of von Neumann algebras including Dan Voiculescu (Berkeley), Sorin Popa (UCLA) and Uffe Haagerup (Odense).
There have been exciting developments in the theory of von Neumann algebras with close connections to recent works in quantum mechanics, topology and representation theory of infinite groups. Major emphasis will be given to Popa's recent break-throughs in von Neumann algebras which are connected to rigidity theorems in group theory as well as to Jones' subfactor theory. The latter already had deep applications in topology and intriguing connections to quantum field theory. It also inspired at least in part
Freedman's work on quantum computing.
The workshop will be a great opportunity for the participants to make further progress on these exciting topics, as well as for younger people to get exposed to the latest developments.
The Banff International Research Station for Mathematical Innovation and Discovery (BIRS) is a collaborative Canada-US-Mexico venture that provides an environment for creative interaction as well as the exchange of ideas, knowledge, and methods within the Mathematical Sciences, with related disciplines and with industry. The research station is located at The Banff Centre in Alberta and is administered by the Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences, in collaboration with the Mathematics of Information Technology and Complex Systems Network (MITACS), the Berkeley-based Mathematical Science Research Institute (MSRI) and the Instituto de Matematicas at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM).
There have been exciting developments in the theory of von Neumann algebras with close connections to recent works in quantum mechanics, topology and representation theory of infinite groups. Major emphasis will be given to Popa's recent break-throughs in von Neumann algebras which are connected to rigidity theorems in group theory as well as to Jones' subfactor theory. The latter already had deep applications in topology and intriguing connections to quantum field theory. It also inspired at least in part
Freedman's work on quantum computing.
The workshop will be a great opportunity for the participants to make further progress on these exciting topics, as well as for younger people to get exposed to the latest developments.
The Banff International Research Station for Mathematical Innovation and Discovery (BIRS) is a collaborative Canada-US-Mexico venture that provides an environment for creative interaction as well as the exchange of ideas, knowledge, and methods within the Mathematical Sciences, with related disciplines and with industry. The research station is located at The Banff Centre in Alberta and is administered by the Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences, in collaboration with the Mathematics of Information Technology and Complex Systems Network (MITACS), the Berkeley-based Mathematical Science Research Institute (MSRI) and the Instituto de Matematicas at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM).
