Abstract: Please come or contact the organizers if you are interested in giving a talk this semester or want to invite someone.

Abstract: Let $G$ be a finite group. For $H\leq G$, $m_G(H) = |H|\ |C_G(H)|$. Let $m^*(G) = max\{m_G(H)\mid H\leq G\}$ and $CD(G) = \{H\leq G\mid m_G(H)=m^*(G)\}$. Then $CD(G)$ is a self-dual modular sublattice of the subgroup lattice of $G$.

It is known that if $|G| > 1$, then not every subgroup of $G$ is a member of $CD(G)$, that is, $|\{m_G(H)\mid H\leq G\}| > 1$. Following some ideas of M. Tarnauceanu, we examine possibilities for $|\{m_G(H)\mid H\leq G\}|$, its form and the distribution of subgroups of same measure.

Abstract: A Lie algebra is a vector space equipped with a bilinear product, denoted by $[\cdot,\cdot]$, such that $[x,x]=0$ and $[x,[y,z]] + [y,[z,x]] + [z,[x,y]] = 0$ (Jacobi Identity). I will give an introduction to the basic ideas and examples.

Abstract: Many results in the character theory of finite groups are motivated from the question: to what extent do the irreducible characters of a group $G$ control the structure of $G$ itself? Recently, it has been observed that certain results along these lines can be obtained when one looks not at the set of all irreducible characters of $G$, but only the subset of those characters taking values in some appropriate field. In this talk, I'll characterize the structure of finite groups which have exactly three rational-valued irreducible characters (for solvable groups, this characterization is due to J. Tent). I will attempt to give some of the flavor of the proof – which at one point includes a surprise cameo by the complex Lie algebra $sl(n)$.

Abstract: Thompson's group $V$ is group of homeomorphisms of Cantor space. It acts by exchanging finite prefixes in infinite strings over a two-letter alphabet. Generalizations of $V$ called $V_n$ act on n-letter alphabets. I will present more generalizations that add the action of finite permutation groups to the finite prefix exchanges. For a finite permutation group $G$ on $n$ points, the group $V_n(G)$ marries the finite prefix exchanges with iterated permutations from $G$. The primary theorem I will present states that $V_n$ is isomorphic to $V_n(G)$ if and only if $G$ is semiregular (i.e. $G$ acts freely). The proof involves the use of automata and orbit dynamics.

Abstract: BCK-algebras are algebraic structures that come from a non-classical logic. Mimicking a well-known construction for commutative rings, we can put a topology on the set of prime ideals of a commutative BCK-algebra; the resulting space is called the spectrum. I will discuss some results/properties of the spectrum of such algebras. A particularly interesting spectrum occurs when the underlying algebra is a so-called BCK-union of a specific algebra. In this case, the spectrum is a spectral space, meaning it is homeomorphic to the spectrum of a commutative ring.

Abstract: In this talk, I will present some recent results concerning the structure of finite groups with restriction on the real conjugacy classes or on the orders of real elements.

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Abstract: In this talk we'll discuss a bit of the work done on a conjecture by Isaacs and others which states that the degree of any primitive character of a finite group G divides the size of some conjugacy class of G. We'll focus on the case that G is symmetric or alternating, with a view to showing that the result holds for every irreducible character of either group. If time permits we may discuss ideas for the next steps toward, as well as some of the obstructions to, a general result.

Abstract: Stone duality is a correspondence between Boolean algebras (BAs) and Boolean/Stone topological spaces. Dualizing the free BA $\textbf{F}(S)$ on set $S$ yields a product space $2^S$, where $2=\{0,1\}$ is discrete. We call $2^S$ a generalized binary Cantor space (GCS$_2$), and similarly define the spaces GCS$_n$ with $n\ge 2$. This talk introduces Stone duality and then answers the question ``what is dual to the class of GCS's?''

Abstract: The inverse of an element $a$ of a semigroup $S$ is an element $b$ such that $aba=a$ and $bab=b$. We define an inverse semigroup to be a semigroup where each element has a unique inverse. I will discuss some introductory inverse semigroup theory, such as equivalent definitions, showing that the idempotents form a semilattice, and the Wagner-Preston Representation Theorem (analogous to Cayley's Theorem). Time permitting, I will present a theorem describing the minimum number of proper inverse subsemigroups needed to cover a finite inverse semigroup.

Abstract: A medial quandle is a left semigroup in which every polynomial is a multivariable endomorphism. In this talk I will explore a useful structure theorem which shows that any medial quandle can be written as a collection of smaller, easier to understand quandles tied together in what is called an “affine mesh.” This mesh provides a user-friendly way to describe the subdirectly irreducible algebras of the variety.

Abstract: A polynomial over a finite field may be compared to a random map from the finite field to itself. One way to match random maps to polynomials is to match certain invariants of the maps. One of these invariants is the coalescence, or variance of inverse image sizes. We generalize a coalescence result of Martins and Panario from the case where a Galois group is the symmetric group to an arbitrary Galois group.

This is joint work with Per Kurlberg.

Abstract: Affine Kac-Moody Algebras are infinite dimensional Lie Algebras that have significance in many areas of math as well as theoretical physics. Although they nicely generalize many properties of finite dimensional simple Lie Algebras, it is not so easy to find faithful representations. In this talk I will give some basic definitions and properties of Affine Kac-Moody Algebras and begin to discuss a nice representation using vertex operators.