Joint
by
Michael Atiyah,
Honorary Professor,
University of Edinburgh
on
Abstract: Lie Groups can be
complexified but not quaternionified. However, their key homogeneous spaces can
in a sense be quaternionified, as was first shown by Kronheimer. Using Nahm's eqation, an integrable differential equation arising from physics
(but really basic to Lie theory), one can define hyperkahler metrics on various
homogeneous spaces. The resulting
picture extends some aspects of complex Lie Groups to the quaternions and ties
up in a suggestive way with the work of Kazhdan and Lusztig on the
representations of Hecke algebras.
Michael Atiyah is recognized to be one of the most distinguished mathematicians of the 20th century. He is most renowned for his formulation of general topological K-theory and for the index theorem for general elliptic partial differential operators. For these and other contributions, he received numerous awards including the Fields Medal (1966), Royal Medal (1968), De Morgan Medal (1980), King Faisal Prize (1987), and the Copley Medal (1988). He was Knighted in 1983 and made member of the Order of Merit in 1992. He has been elected to the national academies of at least 10 nations and received honorary degrees from more than 25 universities. Professor Atiyah served as President of the Royal Society (1990-1995), Master of Trinity College (1990-1997), and Director of the Newton Institute (1990-1996).
“Mathematical tea” will be offered after the lecture in Denny Research Building (DRB).
Location: MHP-101 (Mudd Hall of Philosophy).
Date & Time: Tuesday, February 20, 2001; 2:00 p.m.
Hosts: E. Jonckheere, (213) 740-4457, jonckhee@eudoxus.usc.edu; and W.
Raskind.