SMS scnews item created by Stephan Tillmann at Tue 31 May 2016 1608
Type: Seminar
Modified: Tue 31 May 2016 1609
Distribution: World
Expiry: 30 Aug 2016
Calendar1: 1 Jun 2016 1200-1300
CalLoc1: Carslaw 535A
CalTitle1: K-theory of singularities
Auth: tillmann@p710.pc (assumed)

Geometry & Topology

K-theory of singularities

Christian Haesemeyer (UCLA/Melbourne)

Wednesday 1 June 2016 from 12:00–13:00 in Carslaw 535A

Please join us for lunch after the talk!


Abstract: Algebraic K-theory is, fundamentally, an approach to studying linear algebra over general rings. For example, K-theory tells us that any idempotent matrix whose entries are polynomials with coefficients in the ring of germs of functions at a smooth point on an algebraic variety is stably diagonalisable. This is false if we use germs of functions at a singular point instead. In this talk I will try to explain how methods from abstract homotopy theory, commutative algebra and algebraic geometry (developed to study K-theory in a joint project with G. Cortinas, M. Walker, C. Weibel and in part M. Schlichting) can be used to measure this failure in terms of the algebra and geometry of the singularity in question.