Title: Novel Gauge Theories and Induced Mathematical Structures
Speaker: Thomas Strobl
Institution: University of Lyon
Date: September 18–27, 2024
Location: Seminar Room 5, Mathematics Building, Jilin University
The interplay between mathematics and physics has consistently proven highly fruitful. This mini-course focuses on constructing novel types of gauge theories inspired by concepts from physics, as well as the mathematical structures that arise during this process. Through this approach, we explore new differential geometric and/or algebraic structures that are inherently interesting, including:
Formulations of gauge theories motivated by contemporary physics problems (e.g., string theory, topological field theories).
Induced mathematical structures such as generalized connections, non-commutative differential geometry, and cohomology theories specific to gauge systems.
The interaction between algebraic frameworks (e.g., Lie 2-algebras, gerbes) and geometric structures in gauge theory.
Thomas Strobl is a Professor in the Mathematics Department at the University of Lyon, renowned for his contributions to mathematical physics. His research focuses on the geometric and algebraic foundations of sigma models and gauge theories. In 1993, during his PhD studies and in collaboration with P. Schaller, he co-discovered the
Poisson Sigma Model—a pivotal framework later utilized by M. Kontsevich to derive his celebrated quantization formula in deformation quantization. In 2015, he and A. Kotov pioneered a generalization of Yang-Mills gauge theories to the setting of Lie algebroids, expanding the mathematical toolkit for describing gauge interactions in broader geometric contexts.
With a career spanning over three decades, Professor Strobl has authored more than 60 scientific publications, influencing areas such as topological field theory, string theory, and the geometry of quantum systems. His work exemplifies the deep interplay between differential geometry, algebra, and theoretical physics, making him a leading figure in the study of geometric structures in gauge theories and their applications.
