SIMIS-Fudan Colloquium: Link homology theories and their ramifications

Speaker: Professor Mikhail Khovanov (Columbia University)

Abstract: We recall how the Jones polynomial of links lifts to a link homology theory which is functorial under link cobordisms in 4-space. Extending this homology theory to tangles relates the theory to a variety of categories in representation theory and geometry. Another extension, to a categorification of the Reshetikhin-Turaev invariants for SL(N), requires working with foams as an intermediate step. We will review these developments and sketch some open problems in the theory.

Time: Tuesday, April 30 at 16:00

Location: Gu Lecture Hall, SCMS (Shanghai Center for Mathematical Sciences)